2 Timothy 4:1-5 - Preach the Gospel in and out of season

The reading today is 2 Timothy chapter 4 verses 1 to 5 and it is page 1197 in the church bibles.

2 Timothy 4:1–5

! In the presence of God in Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing in his kingdom, I give you this charge.

Preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season.

Correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Good morning again, church.

Just before I'm going to share God's word, let me just pray.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege we have to come and have an audience with you.

Lord, I pray that you will help me to faithfully teach and preach your word.

Lord, I pray that you open up our ears, the eyes of our heart.

Lord, help us to understand how this text speaks to us.

I pray within hearing it, Lord, you shall renew our minds.

And I pray that you would help us, that we will be doers of this word.

Help us to apply the application to our lives, Lord.

So we don't just gather weekly, meet, hear your word and walk out the same.

But help us, Lord, to change, Lord.

That we would display more of your splendour, your glory and your beauty.

So Lord, be with me and help me by your spirit.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Amen.

So this text that Sarah has just read for us.

This chapter is a continuation of what we heard Steve preach last week.

It contains some of the very last words spoken or written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy.

They certainly are some of the last that we know to have survived before his martyrdom.

For many years, he labours as an apostle and travelling evangelist.

Before he wrote, as we would hear next week in 4-7, he writes,

I fought the good fight of faith, I finished the race.

I kept the faith.

And in verse 8, he goes on to say,

Now he awaits the crown of righteousness which has been laid up for him in heaven.

And also to us who long and await the appearing of Jesus Christ.

These words are Paul's legacy to the church, to us.

So we start with verse 1, as we see here now.

In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead.

And in view of his appearance and his kingdom.

I charge you, Timothy.

This charge is presented, as we may understand,

someone charged and put under oath in a court of law.

Then urged, or it is demanded of them to give evidence or testify as a witness.

Because based on the outcome of the evidence, a decision will be made.

This charge is addressed in the first instance to Timothy in Ephesus.

But I would say it is also applicable in a secondary sense

to everyone who is called into evangelistic and pastoral ministry.

I would even go further to say to all Christians,

in the light of us being called to the obedience of the faith and the great commission.

So let's look at these two verses.

Let's look at verse 2 and verse 3.

The nature of the charge in verse 2.

So the nature of the charge that Paul gives to Timothy

is in three words.

Preach the word.

The message Timothy is to communicate is called the word.

A spoken utterance.

It's to preach it and teach it.

It is God's word that God has spoken.

We're reading John 1.1.

We know in the beginning was the word and the word was with God

and the word was God.

John 1.14 tells us the word became flesh

and made his dwelling or his tabermacle amongst us.

So be a witness to Jesus Christ, the living word of God.

Paul does not need to pacify any further

for Timothy will know at once that it is the body of doctrine

which he has heard from Paul

and which Paul has committed to him to pass on to others.

He's already been informed to keep the pattern of sound doctrine.

Read that in 1.13.

And to guard the good deposit of the faith.

1.14.

This same charge is laid upon the church of every age

and even us here today.

We have no liberty to invent our message

but only to communicate the word which God has spoken

and communicated to the church.

The name Timothy for this matter means to honour God

or means honouring God

which essentially signifies someone who holds God in high regards

and demonstrate respect or reverence for him.

Paul chose Timothy to be a mission apprentice

who would help grow the churches Paul had established.

You read about that in Acts 16.1-5

Timothy is to preach the word.

Proclaim what God has spoken.

His responsibility is not to just hear it

not just to believe it and obey it

nor just to guard it from every falsification

nor just to suffer for it

and continue in it.

But it's to preach and teach it to others.

It is good news of salvation for sinners.

For he is to proclaim, make it known

just as Paul had done

for in the same footsteps of Jesus Christ

preaching who Jesus preached the kingdom of God.

And we the church are also called to preach, proclaim

and teach the word which West Kilburn I would say

do that faithfully.

And there are no various ways we can all do this.

Sorry, there are various ways that we can all do this.

Not everyone is going to go out into the community

like I will often do and knock doors at the book table.

Some of us will want to share with our close friends

and close associates.

Some within our local social networks

and also through social media networks.

And some with colleagues in other ways.

Maybe through handing out tracts or gospel booklets

and through ministry teams serving others

to demonstrate their love acts of deeds

where others in the team will share

and verbally communicate the gospel.

Others will pray for courage, seeking God

and hoping for an opportunity to share Christ.

If the word is not proclaimed, it's not the gospel.

Gospel ministry is one of proclamation.

Whichever way we seek to do it

we are called to be the light of the world

living in this dark age.

People need to hear the word of God.

Timothy instructed, primacy is instructed

and prepared.

He needs to be prepared in season and out of season.

Whether the time seemed favorable or not

he was charged to preach the word

and that is to conduct himself

as an official messenger of the gospel.

He wasn't being told to be insensitive

or to ignore people's privacy.

I believe he was to be prepared

meaning to be alert

and ready to discern opportunities

even when they seemed challenging

or he might be fearful, lacking the courage.

So we have no liberty

to barge into other people's privacy

or tread on their toes if you like.

No.

The occasions Paul has in mind

are probably welcome or unwelcome

not for the hearer

but for the speaker.

It's like a call to be on duty

at all times

convenient or inconvenient.

So we don't have biblical warrants

or license for rudeness

but maybe a biblical appeal

against laziness.

And with that I want to ask you

or maybe you can ask yourself

what does it look like

to be prepared in season

and out season for you?

I share what it looks like for me.

As many of you know

I'm an evangelist

and I work with an organisation

where we are primarily focused

on churches throughout London

to see how we go into the community

to proclaim the gospel.

So in season would be for me

I already know

I'm going to go out into the community

with other like-minded people

or people who desire

to proclaim the gospel.

So I'm really prepared.

I've looked at scripture

to know what God's word says.

I've prayed for opportunities

and I go out

and trust in the Lord

and his spirit

to give me opportunities

to interact with people.

And often when I finish

it's praise the Lord.

I can see the need

for the gospel to be proclaimed.

Now what does it look like

for me out of season?

Well, last week

I was at home

and had a maintenance man

come to my house

to fix my back garden gate

which was broken

and it needed amending

to strengthen it again

so from the outside

people probably couldn't push it

and it falls or caves in.

So he came

and when he came

he was a lively chap

I would say, right?

Really lively.

You know, I had a few tattoos

but very lively

and engaging, you know.

And he mentioned

that he had come from Greenwich

and I thought

a fellow South Londoner.

He looked pretty much

bold and courageous

but, you know,

he was really loving and warm.

He really was.

Anyway, you know,

we established a little bond

and he got on with his work

and I sat down in the kitchen

doing my work

and meditating upon this verse

I thought, wow,

in season and out of season.

What does that look like?

I thought, I'd love to share

the gospel with him

but, you know,

he just seemed really bold

and courageous

and, you know,

someone I thought,

well, we've had a nice little banter

but I don't know

about sharing the gospel.

But sitting down,

sitting down,

I thought I would love to,

I have to do something.

So I came to the conclusion

I would just give him some tracts

when he's about to leave.

Anyway, the time came

he finished the work

and he was about to leave.

So I said to him, right,

listen,

I really would love you

to take these tracts

and read it.

I really believe

they can be a blessing to you.

It's something that I believe

will share some good news with you.

He looked at it quickly

then he said to me

he's a Christian.

We got into a conversation.

Yes, he's professing Christ

but he's not going to church

and he needs discipleship

to see what Christ

really looks like.

So that was something

what was out of season.

I was not prepared

but I took the opportunity.

Another opportunity,

again,

when it was out of season.

Three weeks ago,

I was in Wales

and I was in the sauna.

Somebody asked me

what am I doing here?

We just had a conversation.

I told them.

They said,

oh, you sound like

you're from London.

I said, yes.

They said,

what are you doing here?

I said,

I'm down here

to support a church

and outreach

and preach down there.

They said to me,

what would you say

the gospel is in one sentence?

And I told them.

And when we finished there,

you know,

they asked me my name

and shook my hand.

I remember their name.

I won't call it out

in case, you know,

they listen.

And there's somebody

where I will be praying for.

But I would count

those two occasions

of being out of season.

I wasn't prepared.

I was engaging,

doing other things,

but that season came.

And I believe

this is what Paul

is saying for Timothy

to be prepared.

For those who preach

and teach the word,

as well as those

who share the word,

let us continue

to seek opportunities

like I've just shared

with you

to help people come

to know the living God

through Christ Jesus,

our risen Lord and Saviour.

Next slide.

Now,

this slide you can see there,

this would clearly,

I would say,

was out of season.

Liverpool forward,

Cody Gappo,

received a formal warning

for the football,

from a football association,

right,

after displaying

a Christian message

during a Premier League match

against Tottenham and Otspurs.

Following a goal,

Gappo lifted his jersey

and revealed an undershirt

bearing the message,

I belong to Jesus.

He raised both hands

towards the sky

in a clear expression

of his love for Jesus.

The incident drew attention

due to existing

FA and FIFA regulations

prohibiting players

from displaying

political, religious

or personal messages

on the field.

While Gappo's gesture

was an open declaration

of his faith,

it fell under the restriction

prompting disciplinary action.

Now,

this is an opportunity

that Gappo

probably considered,

if I score a goal,

Lord,

if you give me

the opportunity

to score a goal,

this is what I'm going to do.

And this is what

some footballers players

do,

Christians.

They wear it under there,

but they've got no reason

to take off their shirt

unless they score a goal.

So God clearly

blessed them,

he scored a goal

and he thought,

I'm going to be a witness.

That was out of season

because he received

the backlash,

the next one.

Now,

again,

this is out of season.

I don't know

where the person

were to say,

wake up and repent,

Jesus is coming.

But clearly,

you know,

as this person

was being filmed,

you know,

on news,

someone,

opportunities,

took the opportunity

to actually just

share this message.

And though he's not speaking,

but the sign

reads for itself

and you can imagine

the millions,

if not billions,

people who saw that

and God's spirit

can speak to them

in the way

that he does.

So with those things,

we're told in the Bible,

therefore,

since we are surrounded

by such a great cloud

of witnesses,

let us throw off

everything that hinders

and the sin

that so easily entangles

and let us run

with perseverance

the race marked out

for us,

fixing our eyes

on Jesus,

the pioneer

and perfecter

of our faith.

It is like a race

of perseverance

for Timothy

against false teachers

in Ephesus.

Furthermore,

Paul,

when he was in Ephesus,

the last time

before he was leading it,

he called the elders

and the leaders together,

right?

And he speaks to them

and he says to them

in Acts 20,

25 to 27,

Now I know

that none of you

among whom

I have gone about

preaching a kingdom

will ever see me again.

Therefore,

I declare to you today

that I am innocent

of the blood

of any of you,

for I have not hesitated

to proclaim to you

the whole will

or the whole counsel

of God.

preaching the word

should consist

of the whole counsel

of God.

Let God's word

do the work

only God's work

can do.

Faith comes by hearing

and we know hearing

through the word

of Christ,

so it's important

that God's word

is to be preached.

That means

when we preach

or we teach,

sharing the gospel

is important.

When we share the gospel,

we want to share the gospel,

which is the power

of Christ

unto salvation.

We want to talk

about the story

of God.

We want to talk

about the response

of God.

We want to talk

about the blessings

of God

and we want to talk

about the God

of the gospel

and the people

of the gospel,

which are us.

Timothy

is to trust

in God

and his ability

to lead him

to proclaim the word

with all teaching

in fullness

so people

would come

to a saving grace.

This charge

is presented

to him

in the presence

of God

the Father

and Christ Jesus.

So preaching

the word,

we understand now

from the way

Paul is communicating

to Timothy,

preaching the word

is a matter

of utmost importance

and it's something

that I will say

our pastor Steve,

he prides

the word

to a high level.

It's not easy

to be able

to come here

and share God's word

without sitting

with the pastor

to make sure

we have God's word

to present

in the right light.

So you are

in the right place

and I want us

to just figure

and imagine this now,

right?

Preaching the word,

it's a matter

of life and death.

Let us imagine

four high-rise apartments,

imagine that,

right?

Each apartment

has 20 floors

and only four

fire wardens

assigned to these buildings.

So that's one

to each building

with 20 floors.

If a fire were

to break out,

it would require

a significant amount

of work

and considerable time

to notify

all the residents

to evacuate

the premises.

However,

if more people

were trained

and aware

of what to do

in the event

of a fire,

it would be

quicker and easier

for all residents

to be notified

and evacuated,

thereby saving

more lives.

And that's the kind

of picture

of the gospel,

you know,

with people

out in our community

and society.

The more people

would feel

equipped

and able

to articulate

and share

what the gospel

is,

the more people

would have the opportunity

to hear this good news.

And that's part

of the work

that I do

working with churches

in London.

Next slide.

Whoever preaches

and teaches

the word

will have to.

We're still in verse 2

for those who are

looking at your Bible

and follow God's word,

right?

We're still in verse 2.

So whoever would preach

and teach the word

will have to,

as he's saying

in verse 2,

they will have to

correct

those who

misinterpret

the word

or read

into the word,

not able

to allow

God's word

to interpret

and translate

itself

and communicate

itself to them.

They will also

at times

rebuke some,

though it's a rather

harsh word,

it seems a harsh word,

which generally

means to express

disapproval

or criticism,

often intending

to correct

someone's behaviour

or action.

It's all about

the intent

of the person's

heart who's

given the rebuke.

Jesus is to judge

the living and the dead.

So in a situation

of rebuke,

we would do well

to remember

our place,

not seeking

to be judges

and communicate

and we need

to seek to

communicate

in a loving way.

Paul shows

his disapproval

and opposes

Peter to correct

him.

You'll see that

in Galatians 2,

11 to 14,

as Peter was

eating with

the Gentiles

and then when

some other Jews

came up,

he drew away

from them,

you know,

kind of a bit

of a hypocrite

and Paul opposes

him to his face

and rebukes

him for that.

And of the utmost,

we are to

preach the word,

you know,

we who preach

the word are

to encourage

with a great

patience and

careful instruction.

God's word

is there to

equip the

servant of God

for every good

word.

We heard that

last week as

Steve preached.

It serves its

purpose for

a variety of

ministries.

And God's word

is the one that

really corrects

and rebukes

and deals with

us.

The connection

of the charge

given in verse

one and

verse two

to preach

the word.

If we preach

the word,

it will correct

you,

it will rebuke

you,

it will encourage

you.

We just need

to be open

to what God

wants to do

in and through

our lives.

God will

often do a

surgical work

in our hearts,

meaning that,

you know,

we naturally

resist what

God wants

to do.

We naturally

gravitate to

sin and

oppose God.

but God

will be

doing a

work in

our lives

for his

word and

the spirit

to help

us to

conform and

understand that

God is

speaking to

us.

He will be

refining us

to be more

like Christ.

And the

Bible tells us

no discipline

seems pleasant

at the time

but it seems

painful.

Later on,

however,

it produces

a harvest of

righteousness and

peace for those

who have been

trained by it.

The harvest

here comes to

those who

allow God's

word and

truth,

no matter

how hard or

painful you

may find it,

to restrict you

from doing

what you want

to do.

It will

train you and

cause you to

conform to

God's perfect

will and be

more like

Christ Jesus.

Verse 3,

we're going to

look now,

which I read

earlier.

The reason

people will

not put up

with sound

doctrine is

because of

what Paul

mentions,

right,

in,

you'll see

that in

chapter 3,

verse 1 to

5.

We had

that two

weeks ago,

but ultimately

in verse 4

there,

right,

because they're

lovers of

pleasure rather

than lovers

of God.

The remedy,

the cure to

restore us to

our natural

intended purpose

is the

preaching and

teaching of

the word,

so we hear

it.

It's proclaiming

Jesus is

Lord of all,

as we hear in

Philippians 2,

10,

11,

that at the

name of

Jesus,

every knee

should bow

in heaven,

on earth,

and under

the earth,

and every

tongue acknowledge

that Jesus

Christ is

Lord to

the glory

of God

the Father.

We are

called to

acknowledge our

shortcomings,

our sinful

ways,

or rather

our wrongdoings.

Sometimes

intentionally,

often we do

it unintentionally,

but that is

the state of

us,

for which

we will have

to give an

account one

day.

No matter

our best

efforts,

it doesn't

compare to

a holy,

righteous,

just,

and perfect

God who

loves us

dearly.

Our only

hope is

placing our

trust in

Jesus Christ

by faith,

where we

will come

to know

that God's

truth will

ultimately

set us

free from

the deception

and lies

we seem

to hear

continually

around us

in our

society.

When

people fail

to listen

to and

reject

sound

doctrine,

verse 3,

they gather

together

teachers to

say what

their ears

want to

hear.

they

substitute

God's

revelation

and truth

of himself

with their

preferred

likings,

their own

subjective

truth,

sorry,

their own

subjective

taste.

Now 4

and 5,

we'll look

at verse 4

and 5.

People

turn aside

to myths.

Today we

have preachers

filling large

arenas by

telling people

what they

want to

hear about

money,

or they

tell people

whatever

you believe

in you

can receive

that.

They

entertain

them by

proclaiming

bizarre

doctrines that

appeal to

people's

curiosity.

And with

that whole

careers are

often made

and spent

on reinterpreting

the Bible

and reducing

the words of

Jesus to

a few

moralising

sound bites.

us to

present

something in

a way that

removes any

theological

understanding

surrounding it.

1 Timothy 1,

3 and 4,

Timothy says

to Peter,

people were,

it talks about

people were

talking false

doctrine and

myths,

promoting

speculations

rather than

advancing God's

work which is

by faith in

Christ Jesus

and his

word.

And at

times,

little

conversation

with my

brother Seth

the other

day as we

sat down in

Steve's office,

you know,

Seth went out

in the

community and

he said this

resonates with

him, you

know.

It seems

often sometimes

when you do

go out into

the community

and you are

sharing Christ

and people may

say that they

believe in God

or believe in

Christ but

clearly they do

not believe in

the Christ that

we preach and

teach about in

the Bible.

and it seems

like masses

sometimes prefer

myths than

truth.

This is why

Timothy and the

present church,

we, we of the

living God, we

must preach the

word in its

historical setting

and within the

context of the

whole Bible,

making the

appropriate

biblical connection

and discerning

all the ways it

is a revelation

of Jesus Christ.

That's why we

must persevere in

the studying and

teaching of God's

word.

people need

help with the

application of

doctrine and

members need

help to evaluate

which voice they

are hearing and

listening to.

There's always two

voices.

We see that at the

start of the Bible

in the book of

Genesis, right?

In Genesis chapter

three, verse one

to three, we hear

the serpent say to

Eve, did God

really say?

Then we say Eve

saying in part,

you must not eat

but she also added

and you must not

touch.

God did not say

that.

And I think we,

you know, we

still need to

learn and

discern what

God's word really

says.

We don't want to

add to it and

we don't want to

take away.

We also see in

Psalms one,

blessed are the

person, you

know, who

delights in the

law of the

Lord and

meditates on

his Lord day

and night or

the one who

sits with a

scornful, the

sinners.

So we need to

discern and

really sit down

that we understand

God's voice and

understand whose

voice we're

listening to.

And how do we

know if we are

listening to God's

word, his

voice and how

do we discern

his voice?

Well I'd say

first we need to

read our Bibles.

God speaks to us

primarily first and

foremost through his

Bible, through his

word.

So we need to do

that, that we are

trained in hearing

God on a personal

one-to-one level

as well as

fellowship with

elders, mature

people who teach

the word of God.

After all, God

loves to speak

to us and

reveal himself and

his plans and

his purpose for

us and our

lives.

We should also

follow the text

faithfully as

it's preached and

trust the Lord will

bear witness to

his word, checking

that what is being

preached is what

the word says.

And that's why it's

important even as

I'm preaching that

you have your Bible

open in front of

you to hear what

I'm preaching to

see that it's in

line with the text

that I'm talking

about.

We see this

example in Acts

Acts 17:11

chapter 17

verse 11.

We hear about

the Berean Jews

who were more

noble character

than the

Thessalonians.

For they received

the message with

great eagerness and

examined the

scriptures every

day to see if

what Paul said

was true.

And in this

biblical account

in Acts 17,

the Bereans are

described as

individuals who

received the

teachings of

Paul and

Cyclos with

eagerness,

but also with

a discerning

spirit.

They didn't

blindly accept

the message.

Instead they

searched the

scriptures daily

to verify the

truth of what

was being taught

to them.

This practice

of diligently

examining the

scriptures,

comparing them

to the message

being presented

is what made

them more noble

than those of

Thessalonica who

were more prone

to accept things

at face value.

So we can see

there could be

error if you just

accept things at

face value.

You have a

responsibility as

God wants to and

God is willing and

open to speak to

you.

We need to give

ourselves that

time to make

sure we show

we're receptive

and we too want

to hear from

him.

Now ask

yourself,

which ones of

these two would

you be?

Like the Bereans

who search the

scriptures or the

Thessalonians who

take things at

face value?

It's like 10.

Paul calls

Timothy to be

different.

Now with all of

these things,

the false teaching

and all what he's

saying there,

we're seeing in

this verse 5,

but you,

but you.

Despite all that

is taking place,

Paul continues to

speak pacifically

to Timothy in a

way that calls for

his attention.

So now he

encourages him to

keep his head

or be sober

minded in all

situations,

enduring

hardship.

We can imagine

the hardship

you're in an

environment and a

community where

people want to

distort the

gospel,

where you may

seem that you're

labouring week

and week out.

You know,

if I use my

dear sister Jenny,

you know,

she labours week

and week out

with the youths,

you know,

doing a wonderful

job there in

seeing God's

word being

proclaimed,

but you know,

it's about

enduring hardship

sometimes in the

natural how

things look.

We're called

to walk by

faith,

not by sight.

We're called to

believe in God,

what God says

God will do.

It's not based

on our

experience really

so much,

or it's not

based so much

on what we see

as we know

we can be

prone to

be disillusioned

and be

discouraged,

which is right,

we do,

but at the same

time we all

are called to

endure hardship

because in

gospel ministry

it is often

hard.

So he's called

to endure

hardship,

do the work

of an evangelist

and discharge

all the duties

of your ministry.

Timothy is to

continue Paul's

mission to the

Gentiles,

to correct

false teaching,

guard the

gospel,

teach sound

doctrine,

endure suffering,

preach the

word,

which includes

proclamations,

more so as

well,

to unconverted

and disciple

believers in

the faith.

So the call

to endure

is persevere.

Paul is sure

that Christ

will make a

visible appearance

and that when

he appears

he will both

judge the

living and the

dead in

verse 1

and consummate

his kingdom.

Now these

three truths

remain and

is true.

The appearing.

Christ will

appear one

day.

The

judgment.

There will

be a judgment

for each and

every one,

believer,

non-believer.

But believers

we know we

have Christ

and his

kingdom will

come.

and earth

will be done

away with.

So we

should be as

clear and

certain an

expectation to

us as they

were, as

Paul and

Timothy were.

Having this

expectation,

hopefully it

shouldn't fail

to power and

influence our

ministries because

we know there's

an end,

reward and

goal.

For both those

who preach the

word, teach the

word and those

who listen to

it,

must give an

account to

Christ when he

appears.

We are

called as

Christians to

a life of

obedience to

the faith.

And as we

see, Jesus

will judge the

living and the

dead.

Jesus is

judge over

heaven and

earth and

all things.

Now, imagine

in a courtroom,

a judge's

primary role is

to ensure that

fear and

impartial

proceedings within

the bounds of

the law.

They preside

over trials,

making rules

and past

sentences based

on information

presented during

the case.

Jesus is the

judge who will

judge the living

and the dead.

Paul lived with

a sense of

urgency,

referencing the

last days in

Timothy 3, 1,

to bring the

awareness here

that whether we

are alive or

dead, when

Jesus returns,

we will all

still be judged

by him.

And if some

of us may

consider, okay,

someone's died

2,000 years

ago, what

about them?

Revelation is

trying to give

us a picture,

right?

That everybody

that God has

created and

given breath of

life within

their lungs,

whether they're

living now or

whether they

died, they

will stand

before him and

give an

account.

Revelation 20,

12 to 13

tells us,

I saw the

dead great and

small, standing

before the

throne, and

books were

opened, which

is the book

of life.

The dead

were judged

according to

what they

had done.

As recorded

in the books,

the seed gave

up the dead,

they were in

it.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 5:10

chapter 5,

verse 10

tells us,

For we must

all appear

before the

judgment seat

of Christ,

so that each

of us may

receive what

is due to

us for the

things done

while in

the body,

whether good

or whether

bad.

The application

for us is

to preach the

word and

not be

discouraged.

We do

this because

one day we

too will

stand before

Jesus and

we desire

that we will

hear, well

done, good

and faithful

servant.

That is our

desire and

that's the

desire of this

church here.

That is all

of our

aim that

we all

raise up

and grow

together to

be mature

disciples.

It can

seem easy

to give up

and keep

silent but

what happens

then when

we stand

before the

righteous

judge?

And we

want to

encourage

those who

have not

yet responded

to the

invitation to

trust Jesus

to be their

Lord and

Saviour.

If there's

anybody here

today we do

want to

encourage you.

Ephesians 2,

1 to 3

tells us and

it speaks to

us and me

as a believer.

And you

were dead in

your trespasses

and sins in

which you

once walked

following the

course of

this world,

following the

prince of

the power

of the

air, the

spirit that

is now at

work in the

sons of

disobedience,

those who

have not yet

acknowledged

and made

Jesus Christ

their Lord

and their

Saviour,

among whom

we all once

lived in the

passions of

our flesh,

carrying out

the desires

of the

body and

the mind

and were

by nature

children of

wrath like

the rest of

mankind.

Again, as I

said as

believers, many

of us who

profess and

believe in

Jesus Christ

now, we

too were

children of

wrath, as

in like some

people who

have not

fully made

Jesus their

Lord and

Saviour are

still children

of wrath.

The verse

of Ephesians

2, 3

refers to all

people as

by nature

children of

wrath.

It describes

how humanity

before encountering

God's grace

is inherently

inclined towards

sin and

deserving of

God's judgment.

This verse

highlights a

state of

human beings

apart from

God's

intervention

and redemption.

Imagine this,

another picture.

Now, from what I

know, usually on

the news, I

probably hear about

hurricanes and

tornadoes and

wildfires.

I probably hear

about it more

so in the

United States

of America or

see pictures,

tornadoes and

hurricanes.

Now, I want us

to imagine, for

children of

wrath, usually

if there is a

hurricane or a

tornado coming,

the weather

forecast,

emergency

services, they

would let us

know, can you

please evacuate

West Kilburn,

Queen's Park and

the surrounding

area.

We would all

take to our

cars and flee.

There would

probably be a

long line of

traffic because

everybody would

be trying to

flee the area.

Now, we can

only imagine, we

would flee because

a Gale Force

5, Category 5 or

maybe Category 7

hurricane, that

would probably

wipe out these

buildings and leave

it all flat,

decimated.

You come there,

you probably see

nothing left.

Well, let me

say, God's wrath

would be so much

more severe than

that.

There is no

chance.

Just wipe out.

But the good

thing is we have

a loving God, a

loving Father who

dearly loves us,

who truly is

calling us to a

place of repentance

and faith and

trust in Jesus

Christ as our

Lord and our

Saviour.

And it's a matter

of just trusting

in the Gospel

that you hear

week in and

week out and

believing,

Lord, help me.

In your own

way, just

harking to make

himself known

to you, I

believe he

surely will.

So, those

who believe in

Jesus but are

yet to walk in

the obedience of

the faith, maybe

some have not

responded to

baptism, which

that is something

as a demonstration

walking towards

the obedience of

the faith.

I believe in

Jesus, so a

step we baptise

to signify the

old person died,

a new person

rose, and it's

a step to

walking in

obedience of

God's word.

Maybe there's

some that

attends week

in, week

out, but is

not part of a

fellowship.

I would call

those to maybe

consider committing

to a faith-based

church that

preach God's

words uncompromisingly.

and let me

encourage you in

the presence of

the believers

here and

ultimately in the

presence of God

and Christ Jesus

who will judge

the living and

the dead.

So I encourage

you to trust and

believe in Jesus

Christ and you

will never be put

to shame.

so the application of this whoever we are primarily Timothy is telling sorry Paul is

telling Timothy preach the gospel as for the pastor's office Steve as he does week in week

out he preaches faithfully that's his office that we hear God's word faithfully as people

in evangelistic and pastoral roles secondary you're called likewise and I would say even the

church as we're called to make disciples so with that we are in a church that preach the gospel

and you have the responsibility to hold a minister's ear accountable that you hear the gospel

but for you to do that you need to read the gospel so with that I'm going to pray

father God your word be clears now may God no sorry may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God

our father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and

establish them in every good work Lord we thank you for today thank you for your word Lord I pray

that you would help us Lord in areas where we may shy away Lord help us Lord to to grow to be faithful

Lord that we can be ministers of reconciliation Lord to share your word with those who you bring into

our lives so um continue to work in us Lord and continue to keep us faithful to the gospel preaching

your word in season and out of season thank you Lord we love you thank you that you send your word

to heal us bless your people Lord we pray in Jesus name amen