1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Hi, faith listeners, Welcome to the Bible explained. 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:08,559 Speaker 1: I'm so thankful that you're here to share a cup 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: of coffee with me as we delve into Tewod Timothy, 4 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: chapter four, the last chapter of two Timothy. This is 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: a sad chapter. We're going to get into why that 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: is in just a second. So I hope you all 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: have been doing very well so far this week. If 8 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: you ever have a prayer request, don't hesitate to reach out. 9 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,279 Speaker 1: I tell you, guys that all the time. You can 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: find my email address listed in the description of this episode, 11 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: so send me any prayer quests that you may have, 12 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: and I will write you down in my prayer journal 13 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: for the week. Now, we're going to get into the 14 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: episode in just one second, right after our sponsor gives 15 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 1: a message to you guys. As I said earlier, this 16 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: is the last chapter of Tewod Timothy, so we will 17 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: be finishing up this book very soon here. But today 18 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about kind of a really sad 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:05,440 Speaker 1: portion because this is Paul's last letter, most likely before 20 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,559 Speaker 1: he dies, and he's essentially saying goodbye to Timothy, which 21 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: is really sad in my opinion. So let's read two 22 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 1: Timothy four one through eight. As usual, I'll be reading 23 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: from the web. I command you therefore, before God and 24 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and 25 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: the dead at his appearing in his kingdom, Preach the word, 26 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,040 Speaker 1: be urgent in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, 27 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: and exhort with all patients and teaching, for the time 28 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: will come when they will not listen to sound doctrine, 29 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers 30 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: after their own lusts, and will turn away their ears 31 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: from the truth and turn away to fables. But you 32 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 1: be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work 33 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry. For I am 34 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 35 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: I have fought the good fight. I have finished the 36 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: course the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness 37 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: is stored up for me, which the Lord, the Righteous 38 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 1: Judge will give to me on that day, and not 39 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: only to me only, but also to all those who 40 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: have loved His appearing. Starting in verse one, it says, 41 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: I command you, therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, 42 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: who will judge the living and the dead his appearing 43 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: and his kingdom, to preach the Word. Now, obviously this 44 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: letter is to Timothy, who is a young preacher, but 45 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: we know that though Timothy was a young man, he 46 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: was very knowledgeable in the scriptures. And Paul, at the 47 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: end of his life, which is when he wrote this letter, 48 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: was confident that Timothy could continue the work that Paul 49 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: and the other apostles were doing, which is why he 50 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: writes this letter to Timothy. And possibly this was the 51 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: last letter that Paul ever wrote. And we actually see 52 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: that right here in verse six, which we'll get into 53 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: in just a second. So Paul is commanding Timothy before 54 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: God and the Lord Jesus Christ. So in other words, 55 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: says God is his witness, and as Jesus is his witness, 56 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: he commands him the to preach the word. But notice 57 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: what he says right here about Jesus. He says, Jesus Christ, 58 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: who will judge the living and the dead in his 59 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: appearing and his kingdom. So that's actually the Church creed 60 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: is that Jesus is going to judge the living and 61 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: the dead. But you guys might be a little bit 62 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: confused as to what the living and the dead means, 63 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 1: because you might be thinking, as I did, well, how 64 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: is he going to judge the living because everybody standing 65 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: in front of him is obviously going to be dead 66 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: like here on earth, but their spirits will be there 67 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,119 Speaker 1: in front of Christ. Well, there's two points that could 68 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: be made about this verse. Firstly, this means that Jesus 69 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: is going to judge everybody, past, present, and future. Everybody 70 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: who is alive right now, if Jesus came at this 71 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: very moment, anybody who is alive at this time is 72 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: going to be judged by Jesus. The past dead are 73 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: going to be judged by Jesus. Every single human being 74 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: is going to be judged by Jesus when he appears 75 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: with his kingdom, so in other words, with his second coming. 76 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: That's the first thing this could mean. The second thing 77 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: that this could mean is Jesus is going to judge 78 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: those who are spiritually alive, meaning they have already gained 79 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,600 Speaker 1: eternal life through their belief in Jesus, and those who 80 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: are spiritually dead, those who refused to believe in Jesus 81 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,919 Speaker 1: during their time here on earth. But regardless of what 82 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: Paul meant here, the fact of the matter is, Jesus 83 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: is going to judge every single person. Everyone will stand 84 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: in front of Jesus and give an account for their 85 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: lives and what they did here on earth. And it 86 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: also says in the Book of Hebrews that every knee 87 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: will bow in front of Jesus and declare him as Lord, 88 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: whether they want to or not, because they're going to 89 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 1: understand when they stand in front of Jesus that he 90 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: is God, whether they wanted to believe that here on 91 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:02,119 Speaker 1: earth or not. But going back to the original point, 92 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: Paul commands Timothy to preach the Word in verse two 93 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: be urgent in season and out of season, So regardless 94 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 1: of what time it is, always preach the Word fulfill 95 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: the great commission, which is what Jesus gave us before 96 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: he ascended up into heaven. The great commission is go 97 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in 98 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 99 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: That's the great commission. So we are supposed to, as Christians, 100 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: preach the Gospel and baptize people as well once they 101 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: eventually do believe in Jesus's name. Paul says, it doesn't 102 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: matter what season it is be urgent in every season, 103 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort 104 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: with all patients, and teaching. So that is what is 105 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: included with preaching. A lot of people think that preaching 106 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 1: is just standing up there on the altar and giving 107 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: a feel good message to the congregation, letting everybody go 108 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: after that, and then repeating every single Sunday. But that 109 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: is not what preaching is. Here's what preaching is. It 110 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: is reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with patience and teaching. Reproving 111 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: and rebuking is included in the definition of preaching according 112 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: to this verse right here. So if you go to 113 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: a church where your pastor is only preaching really nice 114 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: and fluffy messages and maybe avoids the word sin or 115 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: avoids topics that includes sin because he thinks they might 116 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 1: be inflammatory or something that is not a healthy preaching style, 117 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: that is only showing part of the gospel. Yes, there 118 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: are feel good things in the Gospel, but if you 119 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,600 Speaker 1: guys have been going through the Bible with me long enough, 120 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: you'll know that it's not just feel good stuff. There's 121 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: a lot of depressing things that happen, especially in the 122 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 1: Old Testament. I was actually just talking to a friend 123 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: about that at dinner the other night. The Bible is 124 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: not just feel good messages. It's actually a lot more 125 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: about our sin and how it corrupts and how Jesus 126 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: came and saved us from all of that. So obviously 127 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: we have to talk about sin if we are going 128 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: to effectively preach the Gospel to people, if we're going 129 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: to effectively evangelize, How are we possibly going to evangelize 130 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: to people if we don't talk to them about why 131 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: they need a savior. You know, the entire point of 132 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: Jesus coming down to earth was to save us from 133 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 1: our sins. But if we use language like, oh, Jesus 134 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: came to perfect what has been made broken, or he 135 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: came down to earth just to spread a good message 136 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: and be a wonderful prophet and heal people, well, yes, 137 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: those things are both true, but it's only part of 138 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: the truth. The whole truth is we sinned, We caused 139 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,119 Speaker 1: death in a perfect world where there was no death, 140 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: and Jesus came down to earth not only to fix that, 141 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: but to save us from the wrath of God because 142 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: of our sins. Jesus took that wrath of God on himself, 143 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: and we have to preach this stuff. We have to 144 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: be urgent about this is what Paul says, in season 145 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: and out of season. And why do we have to 146 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: be urgent, Well, because Jesus could come back at any time, 147 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: and we have to tell people about this so that 148 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: they hear the gospel message and potentially their souls can 149 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: be saved before Jesus comes back the second time. He says, 150 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: do this with all patience and teaching as well. So 151 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: that's the other part of it. It kind of seems 152 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 1: like it's hard to find that middle ground when it 153 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: comes to preaching styles. A lot of preachers will go 154 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: up there and they'll give feel good messages and never 155 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: talk about sin or corruption or personal responsibility. They'll just, 156 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: you know, give happy messages and send everybody home. But 157 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,960 Speaker 1: on the flip side, there's pastors that do nothing except 158 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: talk about doom and gloom and destruction of the earth 159 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: and how God is going to strike all of us 160 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: dead and our sin and how it corrupts. And Paul says, 161 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: right here, you gotta find that middle ground, Timothy. You 162 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: can't be one or the other. You got to you know, obviously, 163 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 1: reprove and rebuke, but also you have to exhort with 164 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: patience and teaching. Exhort typically means to encourage somebody, and 165 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: you do this with patience and also teaching the Bible. 166 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:36,120 Speaker 1: But Paul gives a warning right after this. He says 167 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 1: in verse three, but the time will come when they 168 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching 169 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: ears will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts, 170 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: and will turn away their ears from the truth and 171 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 1: turn away to fables. There are going to be people 172 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,440 Speaker 1: that don't want to hear any of the truth. That 173 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:00,839 Speaker 1: is why churches that have those feel good message are 174 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: often far more attended than churches that actually speak the truth, 175 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 1: because nobody wants to hear that they're wrong. I get it. 176 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: I also don't want to hear that I'm wrong. But 177 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: that doesn't matter regardless of how somebody feels regarding the 178 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: Gospel message. It's the truth and you have to tell 179 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: the whole truth. In fact, if you go to Jeremiah 180 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:31,840 Speaker 1: chapter six, verses thirteen and fourteen, God is talking about 181 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: these false teachers and false prophets that are leading the 182 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: people astray because they're not telling the truth. Here's what 183 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:43,839 Speaker 1: God says in Jeremiah six, starting in verse thirteen from 184 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 1: the NIV version. From the least to the greatest, all 185 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 1: are greedy for gain. Prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. 186 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 1: They dress the wound of my people as though it 187 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:58,320 Speaker 1: were not serious. Peace, peace, they say, when there is 188 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: no peace. Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct. No, 189 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: they have no shame at all. They don't even know 190 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: how to blush. And I'll stop right there and move 191 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: over to Micah chapter three, again from the NIV version, 192 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,599 Speaker 1: starting in verse five, ending in verse eight. This is 193 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: what the Lord says, as for the prophets who lead 194 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: my people astray, if they proclaim peace, if they have 195 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone 196 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: who refuses to feed them. Therefore night will come over 197 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will 198 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: set for the prophets, and the day will go dark 199 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 1: for them. The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. 200 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: They will cover their faces because there is no answer 201 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: from God. But as for me, I am filled with power, 202 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: with the spirit of the Lord, with justice and might 203 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin. 204 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: And that is Micah actually finishing that statement right there 205 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,240 Speaker 1: where he's saying, even though these prophets are tell telling 206 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: everybody falsehoods, I am going to tell the truth. He says, 207 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to declare to Jacob his transgressions and to 208 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: Israel his sin. So Micah is like, I will tell 209 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: people of their sin if no one else will, because 210 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 1: that's important, it's the whole truth. And that is what 211 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:21,559 Speaker 1: Paul is telling Timothy to do. But he's saying, be aware. 212 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: There's going to be people who don't want to hear 213 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: what you have to say because they just want to 214 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: hear whatever their itching ears want to hear. That's what 215 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: they're going to listen to. Whether it's a false prophecy, 216 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: whether it's false teachers, whether it's just blatant lies, they're 217 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 1: not going to care because they don't want to hear 218 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 1: the truth. They don't want to hear that they're wrong. 219 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:44,200 Speaker 1: They don't want to hear that things aren't just hunky 220 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: dory all the time. They want what they want. So 221 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: be aware of those people, he says, But you, Timothy, 222 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: be sober in all things suffer hardship, do the work 223 00:12:55,559 --> 00:13:00,160 Speaker 1: of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry. So he says, Timothy, 224 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: do all these things with a sober mind. That means 225 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: be self controlled, think rationally about things. Don't be angry, 226 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,199 Speaker 1: don't be swayed with your emotions, don't be swayed by 227 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: false prophecy or fame or money. Do things the right way, 228 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: and suffer hardship, is what he says. Do the work 229 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry. So he promises Timothy. 230 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: He's like, Timothy, you're gonna have hardship, And we know 231 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 1: that Timothy did, actually because the Book of Hebrews mentions 232 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,680 Speaker 1: at the very end that Timothy had been released from 233 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: prison after that book was written. So Timothy suffered his 234 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: share of hardships as well. We know he did because 235 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: he was a true preacher for the Gospel message. He 236 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 1: didn't just tell people what they wanted to hear. And 237 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: then Paul goes into his own sufferings because he's about 238 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: to die verse six, for I am already being offered 239 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: and the time of my departure has come. That is 240 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:01,520 Speaker 1: such a sad verse actually, because it's very similar to 241 00:14:01,559 --> 00:14:04,400 Speaker 1: what he said back in the Book of Philippians in 242 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 1: chapter two, starting in verse seventeen, here's what Paul says 243 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: from the web. Yes, and if I am poured out 244 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am 245 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: glad and rejoice with you all. In the same way, 246 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Now, 247 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:23,359 Speaker 1: the Book of Philippians was written during Paul's first imprisonment 248 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: in Rome, and there is a possibility he could have died, 249 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: and he said that in the book. He said, Look, 250 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: even if I do die, I am happy. Even if 251 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 1: I am poured out on the sacrifice of your faith, 252 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: I am glad and rejoice. That's what he says right 253 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: here in Philippians too. But later on in the same chapter, 254 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: in verse twenty four, he says, but I trust in 255 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: the Lord that I myself also will come shortly. So 256 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: in Philippians, Paul believed he would be released. At least 257 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: he had faith that he would be. But he did say, 258 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: regardless of how I feel about something, God's plans might 259 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: be different for me. So I may die here in prison, 260 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: I may be sentenced to death by Nero. Paul had 261 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 1: faith and hope that he would get out of prison. 262 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: When he was writing Philippians, he does not have that 263 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 1: same faith and hope. When he writes the Book of 264 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: two Timothy, he says, I am already being offered, and 265 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: the time of my departure has come. He knows he's 266 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 1: going to die, and he's telling Timothy that right here. 267 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: He says, Timothy, I have fought the good fight. I 268 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: have finished the course. I have kept the faith from 269 00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: now on, the crown of righteousness is stored up for me, 270 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give to me 271 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,080 Speaker 1: on that day, and not to me only, but also 272 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: to all those who have loved his appearing. I got 273 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,920 Speaker 1: a little bit teary eyed when I first read that. Imagine, 274 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: you know, sitting in prison, knowing that you are about 275 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: to die a very excruciating, possibly painful death. Nero was 276 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: not a kind emperor. He was known for being very cruel, 277 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: especially to Christians. He would use them as torches in 278 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: his garden, like he would light them up. He would 279 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: make them spectacles essentially for the people. Nasty guy. And 280 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: we don't ultimately know how Paul died. Church history says 281 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: he was beheaded by Nero, but ultimately we actually don't 282 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: know the fate that Paul suffered after he wrote two Timothy, 283 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: but he likely did die at the hands of Nero. 284 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: Paul is sitting in prison, knowing he's about to die, 285 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: and yet his faith is steadfast. He says, I have 286 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: fought the good fight, I have finished the course, and 287 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: I've kept the faith. He's using a sport analogy here. 288 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,160 Speaker 1: He's using the analogy of a runner who is gaining 289 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: a prize, the crown. Actually, now the crown was not 290 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: like a like a king's crown that the runners would receive. 291 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: It was a laurel wreath that would be placed on 292 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: their heads if they won. That's talked about in First 293 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 1: Corinthians nine. Actually from the NIV version, verse twenty five. 294 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: It says everyone who competes in the games goes into 295 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 1: strict training. They do it to get a crown that 296 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 1: will not last, but we do it to get a 297 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 1: crown that will last forever. Paul likes his sports analogies. 298 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:26,680 Speaker 1: He really did, and here he's saying that he was 299 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: a runner in this spiritual race, and the crown that 300 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:34,919 Speaker 1: he's going to receive is not this dinky little laurel crown, 301 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: but it's a crown of righteousness that God is going 302 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 1: to give him when he dies. He says, I am 303 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: getting a crown of righteousness that is stored up for me, 304 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give to me 305 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: on that day, but not to me only, but also 306 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: to all those who have loved his appearing. So Paul's like, 307 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: this isn't just for me. This promise is not just 308 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 1: for me. It is for everybody. Every single person who 309 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: fights it's the good fight, who finishes the course and 310 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: who keeps the faith, they too will receive a crown 311 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: of righteousness. And I think that's why this letter feels 312 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 1: so urgent. Out of his love for Timothy and everybody else. 313 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: He wanted them to know not to give up, even 314 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: when things seem so desperate, even when you are on 315 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: the brink of death, don't give up on your faith. 316 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,560 Speaker 1: Keep the faith and it's worth it, because if you do, 317 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: Jesus is going to reward you. For me, this was 318 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,760 Speaker 1: a really sad episode to talk about. For some reason, 319 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 1: I teared up when I read this today, even though 320 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,479 Speaker 1: I have read this verse I don't even know how 321 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 1: many times throughout my entire life, because it's such a 322 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: famous verse. I sort of teared up today because I 323 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: was really thinking about Paul sitting in prison ready for 324 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: his death sentence, writing these things out to Timothy. I 325 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 1: can imagine when Timothy received this letter, so many emotions 326 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: going on with him. You know, his best friend, his 327 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 1: father figure, is about to die, and yet Paul had 328 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 1: so much faith in spite of that. So my encouragement 329 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: for all of you guys today is keep on being 330 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: faithful listeners. You all know why I call you that. 331 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 1: It's not for me. You are faithful and you are 332 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:23,479 Speaker 1: listening to the Bible, So keep being faithful. All right, 333 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,959 Speaker 1: here's a quick word from a sponsor and I'll end 334 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 1: the episode after that. Faithful listeners, I really hope you 335 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: have a fantastic and wonderful rest of your week. As 336 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 1: you all know, Fridays are for the members. So if 337 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 1: you'd like to become a member and gain access to 338 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: the Friday Podcast, which is ad free, I should mention 339 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: you should check out the link in the description that 340 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,199 Speaker 1: says kofee okay, and that's where you're going to go 341 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:49,960 Speaker 1: to gain access to the Friday Podcast episodes when you 342 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: sign up for the Coffee Teer. By the way, I 343 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: am going to be switching the tears pretty soon here. 344 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,520 Speaker 1: I've been saying that for a long time, but I'm 345 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 1: genuinely working towards something to switch the tears. But I 346 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: have some more ideas of what I'm going to include 347 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: actually for the tears, and that should go into effect 348 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 1: pretty soon. So all of you faithful members that have 349 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 1: already purchased a tear, don't worry about anything changing, just 350 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: expect some more. All right, faithful listeners, have a fantastic 351 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 1: and wonderful, wonderful rest of your day. I'll see you 352 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 1: all on Monday for an episode from Second to Chronicles. 353 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: Happy weekend, and God bless. I just want to take 354 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: a second to thank the team at Life Audio for 355 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: their partnership with me on the Bible Explain podcast. In fact, 356 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,399 Speaker 1: if you go to lifeudio dot com you'll find dozens 357 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've got 358 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,600 Speaker 1: shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.