Finishing Well

Well, good evening, everyone. It is lovely to be back. Alistair, very impressed by all the names.

There's quite a few of them, and some challenging enough. But the church I normally attend is

Bellevue Chapel. For those who have been coming to Brunsfield for a while will be familiar with

Bellevue, as there are some great strong links. But it's lovely to be here this evening. And also,

there was a swap that we needed to make because last week, for very good reasons, but we had people

wanting to be baptized, and Graham filled in for me last week. But it does mean that I'm closing off

this series in 2 Timothy. So I hope, maybe not having been able to listen to all the sermons so

far, that what I can share with you this evening will fit in with what you've looked at so far.

Again, I don't know how many of this series you have been able to listen to or attend to,

if there's quite a few. I hope it's been really worthwhile. It's an absolutely

tremendous letter, one of the most personal ones that we find in the Bible. And yet, although it

was, of course, first and foremost written to Timothy, it is very applicable to us as well.

And talking about applying, that's always the challenge, isn't it? You go through a series,

but what about the application? I do hope that we don't just rush on to the next letter, the next

book, but that we will take time in what God has been speaking to us about as a church, but also as

individuals that we will take time to apply. Well, this evening, the title is Keeping Your Head,

which is not in the ESV, but is actually found in the NIV. But if you don't mind, I'm going to change it

slightly. Because with you tonight, I want to think of the simple words, finishing well.

Finishing well. Because I think that captures what Paul is trying to, in his final charge,

tries to lay on Timothy's heart. And when I talk about finishing well, I had to think of a picture

that I remember seeing in the newspaper a couple of years ago, of a beautiful replica of one of those

17th century ships, one of those tall ships. I don't know if you can picture it. I can't remember

if it was built either in the Netherlands or in England, in the UK itself. But it was built over

several months, maybe even over a year, trying to use the same materials, trying to use the same

techniques as they would have done back in the 17th century. And then they moved the ship,

they sailed the ship all the way across to Australia, where it was to be docked and used as a museum.

And of course, the building took a long time, the sailing took a long time, several weeks.

But the headline in the newspaper was that the ship stranded three miles outside of Sydney Harbor.

Can you imagine the feelings?

The disappointment, the embarrassment, being so close, and yet so far. Even the people waiting on the dock site,

waiting for it to come in and to welcome it, it didn't come. It was stranded and they did repair it.

And I think it's there now. But just one of those examples of not finishing well.

I do remember reading this article at a similar time of being at a conference where one of the speakers

was a man called Don Carson. He's written a variety of books. He's Canadian originally. He's a professor in America.

But one of the most personal things I heard him say during that conference was, and it's not the exact words,

but basically that it was telling us who were sitting there as church leaders,

that he was very conscious of the fact that he, and he was, I think at that time, about 60s, early 60s,

he could still do something that would totally mess up all that he had been able to do for his God and for his King.

He could have done something that would just totally discredit any books that he'd written.

And he wanted to press upon us the need and the importance of finishing well.

It's one thing to start well.

And how exciting. I hope you experience that here in Brunsfield, of people starting off on that journey with Jesus.

And how exciting it is to hear their testimony of how God has been very patiently working,

and how they finally come to say yes to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

But that's only half the story.

The other half is for us to finish well.

And it's hard to finish well.

I mean, the Bible is full of examples.

Think of God's very own people.

Where we know of a whole generation who ended up in the desert and never moved out of the desert,

even though it had been God's intention to move them to the promised land.

Think of King Saul.

Taller than me.

Much better looking than me.

A very obvious choice is king.

Much more obvious than King David.

But as far as we know, he finished his life by throwing himself on a sword.

I was even thinking of the prophet Jonah.

We don't actually know a whole lot about his life.

But you get the impression that the story we get when he's called to Nineveh isn't so much the only thing that he did in his life.

He was a prophet.

So he must have very faithfully and honorably served his God, proclaiming the truths of God.

But the open ending of the book of Jonah gives us that question mark.

Did Jonah ultimately finish well himself?

And I think that's the essence of what Paul's final charge is all about to his dear son in the faith, Timothy.

By the way, there's a little side note.

I remember running a summer camp and I wasn't very well versed yet in the Bible.

And somebody asked me, so was Paul a father?

Well, me reading about him calling Timothy a son, I thought, well, he must have been married.

He must have been a father.

But this is a son in the faith, Timothy.

And he loved him dearly, like as if it was one of his own sons.

And tonight I simply want to look at, first of all, the how we finish well.

Secondly, the why we must finish well.

But also, lastly, the help that is available to finish well.

Is that okay?

Three points?

First, the how, the why, and then the help.

Because we'll need help.

First of all, then the how.

I think the how is found in verse 5.

It says in verse 5, and I'm just reading from the NIV, it says there, but keep your head.

There's the title of tonight's sermon.

Keep your head.

In the ESV, it says be sober-minded.

Keep your head sorry in all situations.

Endure hardship.

Do the work of an evangelist.

And discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Or again, if you're using the ESV, which is more literal.

The more literal translation is fulfill your ministry.

Four elements.

And what I find very interesting here is that actually the list doesn't allow us as followers of Christ to simply cruise through our Christian life here on earth.

We don't finish well by running off into the desert, sitting in some kind of cave, or for that matter, even running to church and hiding in church.

Desperately seeking to avoid any danger or any conflict or any distraction or any temptation.

I think Paul very simply wants us to realize that part of finishing well comes from doing.

Now, I know this is a slight generalization, but I sometimes get the impression that Protestant theology has at times moved away from works and have been shy to talk about works being part of the Christian life.

Because, and this is very true, this is very much what the Bible teaches us.

We are saved by faith alone.

And it's true, let there be no doubt about it.

It's as simple, but also as challenging as that.

That simply by believing who the Lord Jesus is, and that he died for you and for me on that cross, and that his death took away our sins,

so that we receive a righteousness that is of God, is how we become a Christian.

But the Bible is very clear that what follows faith is works, is doing, is obedience.

There's another word that isn't all that popular anymore.

But faith works.

From faith comes service.

To give you an example, in Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, he says, at the end of chapter 15, he says,

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.

Let nothing move you.

And always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Now, I know in myself, I have a tendency to sometimes rely on what I do for God, that that will buy me his approval.

So again, I also will try very much to rely on faith.

But we mustn't be shy on understanding that part of finishing well is faith combined with works.

And Paul says here in verse 5, that part of that doing should be the work of an evangelist.

And part of that doing should be to fulfill our ministry.

And yes, these both apply to Timothy as well as ourselves.

Now, of course, the Bible teaches that there are certain people with the special gift of evangelism.

But hopefully, we will also know that in many different places in the Bible, but specifically Matthew 28,

it teaches all of the followers of Jesus, without exception, that we are to go into the world and make disciples.

Baptizing them and teaching them all that Jesus had been teaching us.

And when it comes to fulfilling the ministry, very specifically, Paul mentions in chapter 4, verse 2,

that the ministry, referring to Timothy, is to preach the word.

Which I think sometimes automatically makes us think of a pastor standing on a platform preaching.

But actually, the word there, the literal word there, is proclaim the word.

And some clever theologian from Canada, sorry, from Australia, totally different part of the world,

from Australia, called Peter Adam, actually very wisely, I think, points out the fact that

proclaiming the word, or the ministry of the word, is much more than just what happens on a Sunday morning or a Sunday evening.

And then actually, it is the call of all of Christ's followers to also handle God's word correctly.

In the sense that even in a home group setting, we proclaim the word.

Even in our home setting, if we have family worship, or even in a one-to-one, we proclaim the word.

And so both the going out there, sharing our faith, handling, as well as handling God's word correctly,

will help us to finish well.

And I'll explain this to you.

I believe that the more we speak, or share God's word with one another,

in all these different kind of settings,

the more it actually helps us in our own understanding,

our own conviction, as well as our own joy.

You have a Sunday school here, don't you?

Maybe you call it something. What do you call it here?

Kids Church.

Is any one of you involved in Kids Church?

A few of you.

Do you ever feel that you are totally capable

in serving the children that you serve?

Most people, certainly when people enter into that wonderful work,

don't feel capable, or don't feel they have all the knowledge or the know-how.

But actually, because of the simple discipline of having to prepare the lessons,

prepare for the next Sunday,

gets us into the word,

and by serving the children,

we find, and I'm not speaking for you,

but I have found so often people growing in their own faith,

stronger,

wiser.

I certainly experience it as a pastor.

I have to be very honest

that I wonder if I would be

studying God's word as much as I would

if I didn't have to

prepare for another Sunday.

And I see it as a great blessing

and a great privilege

that I cannot preach

or feed people

if I do not feed myself first.

And through it,

I have realized

that God allows me

to grow deeper

and stronger

and that I wouldn't be where I am now.

Now, the other thing,

he says,

that strikes me about this

isn't just the doing,

but it's also the importance of the mind,

says Paul,

with regards to finishing well.

Literally, it says,

be sober-minded

or keep your head.

The word that Paul uses here

refers to anything from

being alert,

being awake,

being watchful,

even with a hint of concentration.

In the best picture,

and it's probably not a good picture,

but have you ever been to London?

That's the only place I can think of it.

But anyone ever been to London?

It is a busy place.

Now, I'm really nice and tall,

so on the underground,

it's okay for me.

But we were there recently

with our little girls,

and boy,

they found it stifling

and very busy.

But we went to the horse guards parade.

There you have them,

on the horses.

And everybody does the same joke,

don't they?

They try to distract them.

But they train.

Not to be distracted.

They're focused.

Part of it is, of course,

symbolism,

and there is,

but they have a job to do.

If anything would happen,

they would be right there.

They're alert.

They're awake.

They are sober-minded

in many ways.

And Paul says,

so must we.

I actually wonder how we would do

if that was our job.

I wonder if I would actually get bored.

I mean,

I don't know how long

their shifts are,

but having to sit there

with all these people

pulling funny faces,

I might get fed up

and say,

I'm going to try to do something else.

But we'd certainly,

a lot of us,

would be distracted.

Now,

how does that work

in our walk with God?

What distracts us?

I don't know

if it matters

what age you are,

what season in life you are.

There will always be things

that will distract us

from faithfully following Jesus.

and following him closely.

We've been looking at

the book of Daniel,

which I think you're doing

in the morning.

Then you'll know that

in chapter 1,

Daniel resolves

not to defile himself.

And he does that

by choosing

not to take any wine

or any of the meat

or the nice delicacies

of the king.

Now,

there wasn't anything wrong

with that.

But it's simply Daniel

wanting to make sure

that he doesn't get

too comfortable.

He doesn't get distracted.

He never wants

to forget

his true home.

He wants to remain

sober-minded.

Live in the world,

but not allow

the world

to live in him.

How is that with us?

Even the word

endure,

where Paul talks about

enduring suffering,

picks up that image

of a marathon.

Well,

there was a marathon today

in Edinburgh.

I don't think

I'll ever end up

doing that again.

Running is boring.

No,

sorry,

if I have heard

anybody's feelings there.

But anyway,

with a marathon,

it must be so hard,

you know,

those last couple

of miles

to keep going,

to finish the race.

And you must need

all the cheers

and the people

pushing you on.

But that's us.

We're on a journey.

We are on that race.

This world

is not our home.

We are just passing through.

Heaven is our true home.

And we must

do everything

in our power

to set our eyes

and our mind

on the truth

and the reality

still to come.

I wonder if we

actually take our mind

as serious as we should.

I find a lot of

even Christians say,

well,

as long as it's up here,

it won't do anybody harm.

I think God knows

that what is up here

often comes out.

Hence,

in Philippians,

Paul says,

whatever is true,

whatever is honorable,

whatever is just,

whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely

and commendable,

if there's anything

worthy of praise,

think about these things.

What occupies our mind?

What needs cleaned up?

What takes away

our alertness?

Is it pride?

Is it bitterness?

Is it immorality?

Remember what it says,

the great commandment?

Love the Lord your God

with all your

heart,

soul,

mind,

and strength.

So there's the how.

By doing the work

of an evangelist,

by proclaiming the word,

by keeping our head.

And here's the why.

And I'm sure that

I'll touch on a few things

that you've already

looked at in the series

so far.

May they serve

as a reminder.

But Paul mentions

three reasons

why we must work

so hard

at making sure

we finish well.

First of all,

there's the danger

of wondering.

Secondly,

there's the discouragement

of opposition.

And thirdly,

the reality

of judgment.

First of all,

the danger of wondering

is mentioned

in verse 3 and 4

where Paul says,

for the time will come

when men will not

put up with sound doctrine.

Instead,

to suit their own desires,

they will gather

around them

a great number

of teachers

to say what their

itching ears

want to hear.

And they will turn

their ears away

from the truth

and turn aside

to myths.

people will wonder.

People will wonder

towards myths.

And this wondering

will happen

as a result

of consciously

deciding to move

away from God

until we move

in the opposite

direction of God.

It might start subtly

that we start

questioning things

in the Bible

as maybe not being true

and then we start

wondering,

well,

if that isn't true,

then maybe something

else isn't true either

and we struggle

with miracles

and we end up

denying the resurrection

of Jesus.

Paul,

unfortunately,

has experienced

this himself.

If you look

at verse 10,

he mentioned

a man called Demas.

And Demas,

he says,

because he loved

this world,

has deserted me

and has gone

to Thessalonica.

Here's someone

who has wondered

off.

And I'm sure

that Paul doesn't

just want Timothy

to realize

that there are

other people

that might wander off,

but he wants

Timothy to realize

he could wander off.

And I'm sure

he even includes

himself,

that he himself

could be naive

and also realize

he could wander

off himself.

What about

the opposition?

Well,

Paul mentions it

in chapter 1,

verse 8,

chapter 2,

verse 3 and 9.

And in our passage,

it comes as an example

in the person

of Alexander.

Chapter 4,

verse 14 and 15,

he says,

Alexander,

the metal worker,

did me a great deal

of harm,

and the Lord

will repay him

for what he has done.

You too should be

on your guard

against him

because he strongly

opposed our message.

As a church

in Bellevue,

we have been looking

at the book

of Ezra and Nehemiah.

We've been looking

at the book of Acts.

We've been looking

at the gospel

of Luke.

We have

tumbled

over the fact

that time and time again,

opposition is part

of the Christian life.

The opposition

might come from

the outside in,

it might come

from within,

but there are

constantly

people,

even spiritual

opposition

in the form

of Satan himself

who is described

as a roaring lion

seeking who

he may devour

that will try

to discourage us,

tip us up,

try to keep us away

and take us away

from the Lord.

The result

that might be

that because

of the opposition

we want to give up,

it's too hard.

And Paul knows

that and has

experienced that himself.

But I think

the most important

one that Paul

wants to hold

before Timothy

is simply

the reality

of judgment.

He says it twice

in our passage.

Chapter 4,

verse 1,

he says,

in the presence

of God

and of Christ Jesus

who will judge

the living

and the dead

and in view

of his appearing

and his kingdom,

I give you

this chart.

And again

in verse 8,

he says,

now there is

in store for me

the crown

of righteousness

which the Lord,

the righteous

judge,

will award me

on that day

and not only

to me

but also

to all

who have longed

for his appearing.

Timothy,

Brunsfield,

you may face

opposition.

Any of us

could be in danger

of starting

to wander

away from truth.

But most

of all,

there is

in the future

a day

where we

will have

to face

the judgment

seat of God.

Now,

in many ways,

this is good news.

And if there's

anyone who is

here tonight

who's ever

suffered injustice

or ever suffered

from pain

or have been

a victim

on the receiving

end of injustice,

this is great news

because one day

things will be

set right.

But it's also

bad news

because it

includes us.

But fortunately,

there's also

good news

because in

Christ Jesus,

we have nothing

to fear,

only to look

forward to.

When we come

before the throne

and we can

claim the grace

and mercy

that was

brought through

Jesus,

but also

if we've

lived faithfully

like Paul

received the

crown

of righteousness.

But if we

live consciously

with that future,

knowing that

there will be

a day

that all of us

will have to

give account

of our life,

will help us

as Paul

to finish

well.

It will

motivate us.

And I really

think that

these three,

the reality

of wondering,

the opposition

as well as

the future

judgment day

really put

power in

Paul's charge.

Paul is not

giving a little

pat on the back

to Timothy.

It's not a little

hot cup of

cocoa.

It's just

encouraging.

Paul knows

what lies ahead

for Timothy.

And his charge

comes from a

deep,

deep care

and love.

And I hope

you feel that

deep love

and care.

Because I hope,

honestly hope

that we will

all of us

see each other

in the life

after this.

That we will

not come to

heaven and all

of a sudden

thinking,

I used to

sit next to

so and so

and they're

not here.

But let me

finish on the

encouraging word

and the news

that there is

help.

Because I don't

want anyone,

and I don't

think Paul

wanted Timothy

to go away

frightened and

worried.

Am I just

going to drop

off?

Am I going

to slip?

No,

Paul says

there is

help.

And help

comes really

in two

forms.

And I

think it's

really important

to acknowledge

and receive

the help

that is

available.

Sometimes I

think in our

individualistic

society we

fall in the

trap of

applying all

this on our

own.

But we need

help and it's

there.

And the first

help is

actually Paul

offering in

himself.

Look with me

to verse 6,

7,

and 8.

He says,

For I,

Timothy,

am already

being poured

out like a

drink offering,

and the time

has come for

my departure.

I have

fought the

good fight.

I have

finished the

race.

I have

kept the

faith.

Now there

is in store

for me the

crown of

righteousness.

What is

Paul doing?

I don't

think he's

boasting.

I don't

think he's

always saying

to Timothy,

you know,

na, na, na,

na, na,

I'm already

here.

Now you

try.

That's not

Paul.

I think

Paul simply

wants to

encourage

Timothy to

realize,

you know,

it is

possible.

And if

you know

of any,

even part

of what

Paul had

to go

through for

his faith,

the lashings,

the imprisonments,

yet for

him to

testify that

he's finished

the race,

kept the

faith,

he's saying

to Timothy,

it is also

possible for

you to

follow my

example,

be encouraged,

and remember

me.

That Paul

himself was

able to do

it,

meaning also

you can.

Practically,

I think it

means,

and I'm

borrowing a

phrase that I

found in a

book written

by John

Piper,

where he

says,

in one of

his chapters,

he says,

read Christian

biography.

Basically,

that chapter

is all about

that we

should make

more effort

in reading

of some

of the,

we call

them heroes

of the

faith.

I think

that's a

terrible,

terrible

phrase or

title.

Paul isn't

a hero

of the

faith,

he is just

like one

of us.

We shouldn't

put him

on a

pedestal,

but we

should learn

from his

life and

how he

remained

faithful to

Jesus.

And we

should read

all the

Christian

biography that

is in the

Bible,

but throughout

history,

there are so

many great

books out

there that

can encourage

us,

of people

that have

gone before

us.

I also

think that

is what

church is

all about.

We should

allow people

to read our

biographies,

we should

share stories,

much more

than we do.

and I

would say

to the

younger

people in

this

congregation,

look at

the older

generation

who are

a little

bit closer

to going

to the

true home

and learn

from how

they have

continued

to stand

firm and

keep the

faith.

That's what

Paul is

doing.

And vice

versa,

those who

are a little

bit further

in the

season of

life,

allow and

take the

opportunity to

teach generations

growing up

what you've

learned to

stick to

the path

and to

the road.

Paul offers

himself as

that help.

But lastly,

and most

importantly,

the help

comes from

Jesus himself.

Because Paul

says in

verse 17,

but the

Lord stood

at my

sight and

gave me

strength,

so that

through me

the message

might be

fully

proclaimed,

and all

the Gentiles

might hear

it.

And I

was

delivered

from the

lion's

mouth.

And again

in verse

18,

he says,

the Lord

will rescue

me from

every evil

attack.

Here are

two thoughts

to finish

on.

Finish

well does

come from

combining

faith with

works and

doing,

serving the

Lord.

It is also

being aware

of opposition

and the

danger of

wandering.

But the

helper

kid is a

Jesus who

will strengthen

us at

every stage

of our

journey.

What's one

of the names

given to

Jesus?

He is

Emmanuel,

God with

us.

God

with

God with

me.

But we

should.

Because God

hasn't

changed.

And the

same God

who gave

strength to

Paul,

and through

what Paul is

sharing here,

would give the

strength to

Timothy,

would also be

the one giving

strength to

each one of

us.

us.

But most

importantly,

is that the

Lord will not

just give

strength,

he also is

able and

willing to

rescue us

from every

evil attack

and will

bring us

safely to

his heavenly

kingdom.

So ultimately,

understanding the

call to not

just start well,

but also to

finish well,

boils down to

trust,

and starting

each day

in dependence

of him and

say,

Lord, I

need your

strength.

I need you

to take me

safely home.

Let's pray

together.

Lord, we

thank you so

much again for

your precious

word,

how every

part of your

word is

inspired by

you,

is your

living word

to us

today,

and we

thank you

for Paul's

words to

Timothy and

through Timothy

to us

tonight.

I pray that

whatever stage

we are in

our following

of you,

Lord Jesus,

that you

will give us

that strength

to do

whatever is

necessary,

to put in

that extra

effort to

not only

start well,

but also to

finish well,

to fight the

fight, to

keep the

faith and

finish this

race, but

knowing that

we can call

on your

help that

is available

to us all

the time.

Lord, it is

my prayer that

we may all

see one

another in

our eternal

home in

heaven, but

we need you to

take us

safely there.

So I pray

that for this

church, I

pray that for

Bellevue, for

other churches

in this city,

in this country,

Lord, help

your people,

your children,

to keep the

faith and to

finish well,

for your glory

and for your

honor, in

Christ's name.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.