Verse 1. "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:"
What if Paul the Apostle wrote to you, as he did to Timothy, in this second letter that is called by the younger man's name and said, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom...?" What if you received a phone call, an email, text or a letter from a notable person, urging you do something you are gifted with, but have neglected to do in the past? I was called to ministry when I was a teenager, but ran away from that call for many years. Many do the same. As I have said previously, I believe that the words of Jesus, "Many are called but few chosen" (Matthew 20:16) are aimed at the many who have avoided the call of God to us. We are "chosen" 1) by His call, and 2) by our willingness to say "yes" to the Lord.
The suggestion of what has been called "the gifts of the Spirit," is that every true Christian is gifted by God in one or more ways. Some of those "gifts" are seen in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 - "Wisdom... knowledge... faith... healings... miracles... prophecy... tongues... interpretation of tongues... teachers..." and more. And if we believe we have some "gift" from a list such as that one, it should occur to us that God has given it or them to us for a much greater reason than just our own pleasure. Whatever gift or talent you have is yours because God intended it, and He has in mind that the love we are supposed to give is to be expressed at least in part through the utilization of those gifts. Your faith in the Lord will result in abilities given to you from the Lord and you are expected to use them in service to others as directed by the Lord who gave them to you.
Verse 2. "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
One of the most remarkable aspects of a preaching, teaching or evangelistic ministry, in which others are helped to find the Lord and grow in Him, is that the words do not merely come from those who speak or write them. If the words are right, they are from God. Timothy was called to "preach," not to preach just anything, but specifically those in the church who are called in such a manner, are to preach, to proclaim God's Holy Word. And we are to be ready to present His Word at all times, whether it seems to be convenient or not. As the Lord leads us in our hearts, we will be drawn to share His Word and He will amazingly give us the very words we should say. What He commands us to do, He will do in and through us. The phrase "be ready..." by the way, was originally a military term to stay at one's post. The Christian minister is always to be on duty, and yet His "yoke is easy and (His) burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
"Reprove" is to test, to prove with evidence, to convict. We are to "rebuke" with feeling those who are in sin, bringing them to a conviction of that sin. "Exhort" was a call to help someone, to come to their aid with patient endurance. "Great patience" in the Greek language of that time can also be translated "longsuffering," sharing godly patience with those in spiritual need. "Instruction" means also "teaching," helping others to understand by bringing them the Word of the Lord in a clear, simple, thorough manner, so they might be converted and learn to trust in the Lord. It was God's Holy Word that brought me to Jesus Christ and it is His Word that will sustain each of us, right now, today and forever.
Verse 3. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,"
What is "sound doctrine" in the light of these verses in Second Timothy? "Sound" is actually from a Greek word that means "healthy... wholesome... in good health..." and "sound" is indeed a good translation of that word. "Doctrine" is actually "teaching." To believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; that He healed, taught, forgave, died for the sins of the world and rose from the dead, is the gospel, the teaching that will bring health to our souls when we merely believe. We become spiritually ALIVE, connected to the Holy Spirit of God as we were designed to be from before the beginning of time. "The time will come" when humanity "will not endure" teaching about our Lord, and we will begin to see the dawn of such ideas, very possibly in our own lifetimes. Public prayer will be stopped. People will not be allowed to tell others about the Lord Jesus, but other ideas will be tolerated. Are we seeing such actions in the world right now?
"Ears tickled" is a phrase denoting "to scratch," used in reference to an obsessive interest in hearing "spicy" bits of information. Curiosity will be present at the future time described in these verses, but it will be satisfied by a desire, a lust for lies, rather than any kind of interest in the truth. A favorite word used in the writings of many theologians and other "teachers" in the past two hundred or so years, is "myth." The words of the prophets and the miracles in Scripture are dismissed as mythical in nature, and the faith of generations of seminary students has been damaged as a result. The Bible, Old and New Testaments, was largely spoken and written by eye witnesses, and we should prayerfully consider such words because if we, thousands of years later, are judges of what is true and what is not, then we should listen intently to the words of those who saw, heard and touched, for example, the risen Lord Jesus. They were eye-witnesses and we should hear them. But there are many who will not listen, will not believe, and they "accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires."
Verse 4. "and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
The word "myths" was mentioned in the commentary on the preceding verse. It can also be translated "fables" as it is in the King James Version of this verse. The reason that some don't believe in the Lord is because they don't want to believe. Psalm 19 was written by King David, the former shepherd boy, who made mistakes like we all do, but he had honest faith in the Lord. That Psalm starts out, "the heavens declare the glory of God..." All you have to do is look up at the interstellar vastness of outer space, or look down through a microscope into the amazing microscopic world that is all around us, and if you are willing, you will see the handiwork of God. Psalm 19:7 continues, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul..." This book we call the Bible will convert you to the truth if only you become willing to believe.
Paul the Apostle spoke about many in humanity in this way: They "suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). And he continued, "since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although they knew
God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:20-22). It will be a sad, ever increasing phenomenon at the end of this age, that people "will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths."
Verse 5. "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
When Paul the Apostle wrote his letters he often dictated them to what is called an "amanuensis," a secretary. Timothy performed this function on more than one occasion, as you can see in places like Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:1, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians 1:1, where Silvanus also had a hand in the writing. There may have been such a person in relation to this letter, but if so, they are not named. It could have been Dr. Luke who did the actual writing, for we will read the words, "Only Luke is with me" (2 Timothy 4:11). But whoever did the actual writing, this letter was not only written to Timothy, it is also written to you and me, for that was and is the intention of the Holy Spirit.
With that in mind, note that the Lord through Paul is telling you: "Be sober in all things," or as it says in the King James, "watch in all things." We are now capable of being more observant than we were before, for the Holy Spirit is with us. And note the phrase, "endure hardship." When we place our faith in the Lord, we acquire friends who trust in Him, but we also find enemies who bring hardship to us, for there are many who don't like the Lord and dislike those who are His own. The "evangelist" is a person who is gifted by God to plant spiritual "seeds," to lead others to Christ. We are encouraged, as the Lord leads, to tell others about Him. "Fulfill your ministry" was in the Greek language as a nautical term - it spoke of a ship borne along by full sails, holding nothing back. It also meant "full measure."
Father, we may have said "no" to You in the past, but it's time to say, "yes," we will respond to You. We pray that Your call is still part of our lives. Forgive us for not following You in the past. Lead us, direct us, show us the way we should go, and enable us to respond in truth. We are Yours, Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Study 10/31/10 - 2 Timothy 4:6-10
Visit the Lonely
Verse 6. "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come."
Most of us have some sort of vague awareness that we will die someday, though many Christians like to add: "...unless the rapture comes first;" and of course, they ardently hope that it will come first. But we will not avoid all suffering in this life, as observed in Scripture in many places, such as the preceding verse where Paul advised us to "endure hardship." But note in this verse that Paul was not merely feeling discouraged about his situation - he knew that he soon would depart this earth by dying physically. No intervening rapture - he knew he would die.
He knew it because God the Holy Spirit had revealed it to him. When Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and how He would affect our lives, He said: "...the Spirit of Truth... will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come" (John 16:13). It was true for Paul and it is true for us as well. The Lord knew it was appropriate that Paul's life, in which he was "being poured out as a drink offering" through the suffering he was experiencing, would soon end. And He revealed that end to Paul, who knew that "the time of (his) departure" had come.
Verse 7. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;"
We have studied Paul's Christian life from the time of the first verses of Acts Chapter Nine when Paul (known at that time as Saul) was confronted by the Risen Jesus Christ and was turned from legalism to faith in the Lord. From that incredible moment, which surprised Paul and everybody who knew about him, until the time of these verses in Second Timothy, Paul had consistently said "Yes" to the Lord. Previously he had been a religious, legalistic man; now he was a faithful man, who responded consistently to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God.
Not unlike today, spectator sports such as boxing and foot racing were a big part of the Greek and Roman culture that surrounded the Apostle Paul all of his life. The Olympic Games were only part of it, for local sporting events were held constantly in every part of the Roman Empire. Participants in such events, by the way, were thought to be honorable people. The Christian contest presented to all who place their faith in the Lord is infinitely greater than any other calling. Note that the word translated "fight" was more than just about boxing. It was a word used for chariot races, foot races, wrestling and more. Paul trained as hard as any boxer and he had successfully completed the "course," a life committed to the Lord. And let's pray that everyone who reads these words will someday be able to say: "I have kept the faith."
Verse 8. "in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
What an amazing promise! Yes, it does apply to the Apostle Paul, the man who spoke and wrote these words, but what he said applies to EVERYONE who places his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A "crown," a symbol of authority, is offered. When the conflict of this life is finished, it only remains for each one to receive the "crown of righteousness." Do you feel that you are a "righteous" person. HE, the Lord, is the Righteous One and incredibly He shares His own righteousness with ordinary people like you and me. This "crown" is HIS crown. Like the gift of our bodies, like the grace of God, He gives gifts to those He loves. And there is even more.
He gives us the "crown of glory that does not fade away" (1 Peter 5:4). Like the moon reflects the glory of the sun, those who place their faith in the Lord, begin to reflect His glory into the darkness of this world. And we are given the "crown of life" (James 1:12). We saw in Verses 6-7 that Paul the Apostle knew that he was soon to depart this world and be with the Lord. But he also saw that death is merely a doorway to eternal LIFE for those who are willing to trust in Jesus Christ. The "award" that Paul talked about was indeed his, but he was also right when he said that it does not only apply to him, "but also to all who have loved His appearing." Have you begun to love, to have faith in the Lord? Then the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, the crown of life - all of it is yours.
Verse 9. "Make every effort to come to me soon;"
Paul was lonely. Can you imagine? This man who had helped so many (and he continues to help thousands, millions of people to this day) - was lonely, abandoned by the people who had previously walked and ministered with him. Now he was a prisoner of the Roman Empire. If he had written a resume, it would have had the word "Jailbird" stamped on it, and because of his circumstances, most of his former companions had abandoned him. Some harmed him, as we will see in the verses that follow, whereas others were off doing the work of missionaries.
We have many problems in humanity and one of them is this: We tend to value people on the basis of their seeming usefulness. Paul had been a very useful man and because of that, he had a large following. He had been a success and everyone seems to be drawn to successful people. "Make every effort to come to me soon." It was the lonely statement of a lonely man. And how many people in relation to your life are lonely? Can you visit a prisoner this week? Someone in a convalescent facility? A hospital? The world is full of lonely people and the Lord expects us to visit them. He said, "...inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Matthew 25:35).
Verse 10. "for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia."
Notice how these names are recorded for all of human history, for all eternity. God knows our every thought, each word even before it is on our lips, and He is intimately aware of every action, everything we do. When you close the door, sigh, and breathe the words, "I'm alone at last!" - You're not alone. There's a song which was popular just a few years ago which contained the words, "God is watching you." And He is watching, along with cherubim, seraphim, and perhaps millions of angelic beings. But don't be afraid. His intention is not to judge you or embarass you, for His hope, His intention is simply that You will trust in the Son of God and be saved.
"Demas" ("popular") was listed as a "fellow laborer" with Paul in places like Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24, and yet something went terribly wrong. He either became what is called "backslidden" or he was never saved in the first place, for Paul observed that the man "loved this present world" more than he loved the people of God, such as Paul himself, who needed companionship - right now. And off Demas went to Thessalonica. "Crescens" ("growing") went to Galatia, and off "Titus" traveled to Dalmatia. Though Paul expressed nothing negative about the departure of the latter two, he did miss them - a lot.
Father, remind us of the lonely ones in this world and arrange our schedules so that we will be able to visit them, send them a card, or talk to them on the phone. However we are to meet their need, give us the desire and the opportunity to do so. Let us be Yours and theirs as well. Who knows? - Perhaps You will send us to someone as lonely and as gifted as Paul the Apostle. Or not; but we will respond. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Study - 2 Timothy 4:11-15
Help, Not Hinder
Verse 11. "Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service."
The name "Luke" was a shortened form of "Lucius," a man Paul called "the beloved physician" in Colossians 4:14, the same verse in which Paul spoke of "Demas," the man mentioned in Verse 10 of this chapter in a negative sense. But everything about Luke was positive to the Apostle Paul. He was Paul's companion and doctor. At the call of the Lord, this man left his life as a medical professional and stayed with Paul during his travels and imprisonment. Luke was the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Acts 16:8-10 is the place in that Book when the narrative changes from "they" did this or that, to "we" - for it was the point when Dr. Luke became an eyewitness to the events he wrote about.
"Mark" was John Mark, and he was the younger man who would write the Gospel we call the Book of "Mark." He was an important person in the life of Paul the Apostle. The "John" of Acts 13:13 was this very John Mark, who, "departing from them, returned to Jerusalem." Later Paul and Barnabas, who had been partners in ministry for a long time, argued about young Mark. Barnabas "was determined to take with them John called Mark," but Paul felt hurt by the young man's betrayal and thought otherwise. Paul and Barnabas separated at that moment and were partners no more. In this verse in 2 Timothy we see that Paul lived the words he spoke and wrote. He had forgiven Mark and now accepted him. As he said in this verse, "he is useful to me for service." As Paul forgave Mark, so should we forgive those who may have hurt us in the past.
Verse 12. "But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus."
"Tychicus" was a name that meant "chance happening" or "fortunate." For whatever reason, Paul had sent this man from Rome to the city of Ephesus in Asia, but considering the Paul who wrote these letters in Scripture, he undoubtedly sent the man because the Lord led him to do so. Tychicus was one of the men who accompanied Paul in the Roman Province of Asia, and the man apparently was originally from Asia. Tychicus, along with Onesimus, was entrusted to carry the Colossian letter of Paul to the Colossian people. Paul felt he would comfort their hearts (Colossians 4:7-9).
The man was also entrusted to carry the Letter to the Ephesians, and in it Paul said of him, "Tychicus (is) a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord..." (Ephesians 6:21-22). The man's departure to Ephesus with the Ephesians letter may well have been the journey mentioned in this verse in 1st Timothy, or it may have been an additional trip the man took at the command of Paul. Unlike Demas, as indicated in Verse 10, and Alexander of Verse 14, this Tychicus was a good, faithful man who responded to the Lord by helping Paul. And so we should do the same for those who need our assistance.
Verse 13. "When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments."
Most of the people in this world spend much of their time in the accumulation of money, goods, luxuries of all kinds, protection - all of the things this world counts as valuable. Notice that Paul had lost it all. He was born a Roman citizen, a rare honor, and now he was a prisoner of the Roman Empire, an outcast on the verge of losing everything. He had been a Pharisee, honored by his own, but now he was rejected by the very people of Israel that he loved. Outwardly, many regarded him as a failure and some of them wondered, "Did he really belong to the Lord? Were his words and his writings all these years just a fake?
At the moment, he didn't even have a cloak. The Greek word used here referred to a heavy cloak, not unlike an overcoat. He was in a cold place and had no way to get warm. And if you are a lover of books, if you like to read, you will understand the importance of the books he was asking Timothy for. He had no one to talk with, no people of the synagogue to speak to, nothing. The word used for "parchments" was a Latin word, used only here in the New Testament. They may have been invaluable manuscripts or even more likely, they were blank parchments, for this was a man who could WRITE - and I am sure he had much more to say, more to give to this world, before he "finished the course," as we saw in Verse 7.
Verse 14. "Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds."
In 1 Timothy 1:20, Paul the Apostle, the writer of these epistles (letters) wrote of "Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom (he) delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme." It is likely the "Alexander" named in these verses in 2 Timothy is the same man as the "Alexander" in Paul's other letter. We can also wonder if he was the same "Alexander," a Jew, mentioned in Acts 19:33 and the context of that verse. The word for "coppersmith" is not found anywhere else in the New Testament, and this secular word actually was not limited to copper, but was used for any kind of smith - silver, gold or a blacksmith.
And it's reasonable to wonder, when and where did this "Alexander" do Paul "much harm?" It's not known, but in regard to Paul's words about Alexander, it is important to consider the parable of Jesus found in Matthew 13:24-30, about the man who "sowed good seed in his field, but... his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat..." and Jesus completed the parable by saying, "Let both grow together until the harvest..." There are "tares" among the "wheat" today, and we can be sure that one reason the Church contains people who are surprisingly exposed as criminal abusers is that they are not really part of the Lord's Church at all, but they are in fact, "tares," on assignment by the enemy.
Verse 15. "Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching."
It could be concluded that Paul the Apostle was now gossiping about this Alexander the Coppersmith, the man named in Verse 14 as someone who had done Paul much harm. Actually, Paul saw gossip as a danger to the church and would not have done it. In 2 Corinthians 12:20, Paul expressed his concern that when he went to the city of Corinth, he would find rampant practices such as "contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults," and more. The Greek word for "whisperings" in that verse can also be translated as "gossip" or "slander."
"Gossip" is actually a dangerous force that has caused harm within the Body of Christ, the Church, since the beginning and Paul did see it as a great danger. People often repented of adultery, murderous thoughts and actions like drug use, but somehow, gossip has been and is a negative force that most do not even see. It is like there is an elephant in the middle of the room with us, but we somehow do not know it is there. "Slander" is saying something about someone and what is said is not true. Paul simply was telling the truth about Alexander and he did it in order to protect Timothy from harm. His words were neither slander nor were they gossip. They were merely the truth.
Father, help us to be useful to others and learn to protect those around us, never doing them harm. Heal Your people, the church, and give us Your words, Your wisdom, Your love. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Study 11/14/10- 2 Timothy 4:16-19
All Deserted Me
Verse 16. "At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them."
Have you ever felt completely abandoned by friends and loved ones to the extent that you have been left with the thought that you are utterly alone? It can be a very bad feeling and it seems to happen just at the time when we need others the most. That's the way Paul had been feeling at the time when he wrote the words in this verse. He was being accused of things that were not true and his friends could have testified on his behalf, but instead most of them left, "washed their hands of him," and had nothing more to do with this great man of God.
Paul's response to it all is very interesting. He said, "May it not be counted against them." That was precisely the response of Stephen, one of the first seven deacons in the church, when he was being stoned to death. He cried out, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin" (Acts 7:60). And let's not forget the words of the Lord Jesus, when he was betrayed by the Jews, by the Romans, and by our sins. He cried out from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). We should stand with Paul, with Stephen, and with the Lord Jesus Himself, and pray for those who harm us. They may turn to the Lord and their sins will be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Best of all, in being made clean, they will be filled with the love of God, and likely will no longer be harmful to others.
Verse 17. "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth."
Here is the testimony of Paul the Apostle and we should all hear his words. We saw in the preceding verse that most of those he was counting on for help had deserted him. He felt betrayed and he was alone. There's an old expression in the English heritage that goes like this: "Where there's smoke there's fire." It meant to many of Paul's friends that if he seemed guilty, he probably was. Paul was a prisoner, he had been taken out of public ministry, and he was being accused by the government of committing crimes. He seemed guilty to those who thought about him, including most of his friends, and when he looked around for help, there was none. He was judged and abandoned by many of his former companions.
But note his words about what happened: "The Lord stood with me and strengthened me..." Do you feel alone? Do you feel betrayed? Have you just about given up? Did you try really hard to do the right thing and everything went wrong? Note this: The Lord is with you and He will strengthen you. Just as the Lord stood with the Apostle Paul, He is with you right now. If you feel like you have failed and if everybody agrees that you are a failure, it's time to turn your eyes, your thoughts upward and look to the Lord. Ask Him, sincerely ask Him for help. Confess any sins that might have been in your life and surrender yourself and your circumstances to Him. God has a purpose for your life; there is meaning to it all, even now. Trust in the Lord, let His will be done. All will "be fully accomplished" and it may be He will rescue you "out of the lion's mouth."
Verse 18. "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."
In this verse we find faith, hope and love in great measure. Faith says, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed." Hope encourages, He "will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom." Love calls out to the Lord in utter adoration, as we behold Him and shout, "to Him be the glory forever and ever." And in Paul's ending flourish, the word "Amen" means "So be it" or "It is so!" In this verse is the revealed heart of one who has utterly come to know that God is with us, He will utterly bring us through this life into eternity with Him, and He, our everlasting God, is glorious beyond measure.
The Lord will not only save you from every evil deed that has been committed against you, but He will also save you from every wrong you have ever committed. All of us fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), for He compares us not with other people, but with Himself. The Lord Jesus Christ has died for our sins and when we decide to trust in Him, we are forgiven in the sight of a Holy God. The Father looks at you and me, and sees His Son in us. The Father loves the Son and He also has great love for you and me. The promise is that we who are willing to have faith in the Lord Jesus will be received by Almighty God. We are to be with Him and His love - forever. Death no longer has a hold on us. We shout a joyous "Amen," ("It is so!") because of His wonderous gift.
Verse 19. "Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus."
The "Prisca" in this verse is as shortened form of "Priscilla," and this lady who loved the Lord can also be found in places like Romans 16:3 and 1 Corinthians 16:19. Note that she is named first, before her husband, Aquila, and she was similarly listed first in Acts 18:18 and Romans 16:3, which was most unusual for the time. The two of them, husband and wife, went to Ephesus after they and other Jews were expelled from Rome, and the suggestion of this verse in 2nd Timothy, which asks Timothy to "greet Prisca and Aquila," is that Timothy was in Ephesus with them when this letter was addressed to him.
Paul spoke fondly of "Onesiphorus" in 2 Timothy 1:16,18, when he said, "The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me..." and "The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day..." This greeting to the man's "household," which would include family members and servants, instead of to Onesiphorus personally, suggests indeed that this good man had died. Both Paul and Timothy had lost, for their remaining time on earth, a very good friend. Some had walked away from Paul and others were just - gone!
Lord, everyone on earth experiences great loss, some much more than others. Help us to accept others who have lost much and let us be true comforters to them. You want us to be there for the downtrodden, the widow, the orphan, the sick, and the stranger in our midst. Be our strength in reaching out to others. Fill us with faith, hope and love, just as You did with the Apostle Paul. Thank You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Study 11/21/10- 2 Timothy 4:20-22
The Lord is With Me
Verse 20. "Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus."
"Erastus" was a personal name which meant, "beloved." Sometimes people have lives that are almost the opposite of what their names might indicate that God intends them to be, but Erastus seems to have truly given his life to Christ and was the "beloved" of his Lord and his brethren in Christ. Erastus had become one of Paul's inner circle of companions, but Paul had sent Erastus to Macedonia, and at that time, Timothy went with him (Acts 19:22). He was also named in Romans 16:23 as "the treasurer of the city," an important position which he must have left in order to accompany the Apsotle Paul. When God calls, we do well if we go, though leaving may sometimes be difficult from a human perspective.
We learn in Acts 20:4 that "Trophimus" was from Asia. We see him again in Acts 21:29, where we learn that he was specifically from the city of Ephesus, which was in Asia (present-day Turkey). He traveled with Paul from Macedonia to Troas and then to Miletus, where he was left because he was very "sick." Isn't it interesting that many in the Early Church had gifts of healing and many were healed through prayers of faith, and yet Trophimus was not healed? Perhaps he lacked faith, but that's not what Paul's words would indicate. The suggestion is that some sicknesses and other problems we may have in life can have a purpose; they can be useful to God. Trophimus was not healed because God had another direction for him, and therefore he stayed behind at the place called "Miletus," a city of Asia Minor.
Verse 21. "Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren."
In Verse 13, Paul asked Timothy to come to visit him in person, and in that context he said, "When you come, bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus," who was some person who had previously been a part of Paul's followers. It was already becoming cold at Paul's location in the Italian penninsula; winter was arriving soon, and it would become much colder still. Paul needed warmth, he needed help; he needed his cloak. Do you have needs in your life that have not yet been met? Keep praying, for just as surely as Timothy read this letter from Paul, God hears your prayer.
Paul's inner circle of his most trusted companions had mostly left him, but he did have people who stayed with him. He was not completely alone. "Eubulus," had a name that was from the Greek language and it meant "prudent" or "good counsel." Eubulus was with him, and also "Pudens" (a Latin word which meant "modest"), "Linus" (Greek for "linen"), along with"Claudia" (Latin for "persevering"), and there were more. His most helpful friends were gone. Some were sent on missionary journeys and others just left, and he was lonely, but it's good to know that people were there for him. God had not forgotten His faithful servant. And He will not forget you.
Verse 22. "The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you."
There is so much loss in life. Part of our function as pastors is to comfort others. Sometimes we do well and sometimes less well, but God intends comfort to be part of the mission of the person in that office. A great deal of our training to be pastors is through what is called "the school of hard knocks." The more trouble we have and encounter in life, the better equipped we are likely to be to help those who are in need. That's what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:4 - "God comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God." Read that verse in 2nd Corinthians and its context. It's not just for pastors - it's for everyone of us.
The troubles in your life are meant to have a good outcome and they have a good purpose because God intends for it to be so. And your difficulties are likely to be more about the needs of others than they are about you - people you may not have even met at this time. Your suffering will teach you how others feel and how to help them. That's because the Lord Jesus Christ is arranging these events and He is "with your spirit," as it says in this verse. There are people praying for you that you hardly know, because the Lord has pointed you out and urged them to pray. Angels are literally watching over your life and you have been delivered far more times than you could ever imagine. That's what the "grace" of God is all about. He really loves you and me.
Lord, are You with me? Do you hear me when I call? Of course You do. You are with the spirit, mind and body of each one who is encountering the words of this prayer. We are Yours, Lord, and we are deeply encouraged to recognize that You care so much for us. Forgive us our sins, heal our lives, use us in Your service and cover our lives with Your grace. Thank You, Lord, for hearing and answering our prayer. In Jesus Name. Amen.
