A Letter Before Death - Pastor Daniel Batarseh

If you remember over the past few weeks and months, as a

church, we've been exploring the book of 1st Timothy and our

prayer is that through that book, we would have had a

greater understanding of God's purpose for the local church.

What his DNA, his blueprint for the church is not, what

tradition says, not what modern Church growth movements promote,

but what God's word says, And with the interaction between

Paul and Timothy and Paul's writings and instruction still

fresh in our minds. I think it seems appropriate

that we would only continue as a church to go through the book of

2nd Timothy and that's exactly what we're going to be doing

throughout the next few weeks. So please turn with me to the

book of 2nd, Timothy chapter 1 and as you turn there, We're

going to pray one more time, and ask the Lord to help us with

these two verses that we have today.

Pray with me, please. Father in heaven, we come before

you again. Lord, your word says that your

house shall be called a House of Prayer.

We pray, we seek your face Lord. We come with empty hands.

We come with hearts that are in need of you Minds that are need

of you bodies that are need of you.

Lord. Our souls are in need of you.

We ask Lord that this morning you would sanctify us.

You would wash Us afresh in the revelation of your goodness.

We pray. Lord that you would destroy

every work of Satan. Every work of the flesh.

We pray. Lord that the Holy Spirit would

do miracles in this place and Lord as you fell in the

household of Cornelius, to those who heard the word.

Would you do the same in this place fall upon us as we hear

your word and change Us From the Inside Out.

Lord, we long to partner with your purpose and your purpose.

To transform us into the image of your son brand us, Lord with

Christ rewire, renew our thinking Lord.

I pray Lord with my brothers and sisters that in this place, you

would show us how we can change. Show us how we can understand

you. Show us how we can reflect you.

This is our desire Lord made the ministry of the word.

Be assisted by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Now we can't do this without you.

We can't preach it without you. We can't receive it without you.

We humble ourselves in the Name of Christ.

We pray. Amen.

Read with me, please. Second, Timothy chapter, 1,

verse 1 and 2 Paul An apostle of Christ Jesus.

By the will of God, according to the promise of the life that is

in Christ. Jesus 2.

Timothy, my beloved child grace mercy, and peace.

From God, the father and Christ Jesus, our lord.

The book of 2nd Timothy is unique for two main reasons and

I'm sure you can come up with one or two other ones.

Firstly, second. Timothy is one of Paul's most

intimate and personal letters. Paul here is not addressing an

entire congregation as he does other books nor.

Is he unfolding a theological masterpiece?

Like he does with the book of Romans, for example.

Paul here, speaking to an individual and not just a random

individual. He speaking to his Protege.

He speaking to his spiritual son, his coworker in the gospel

that meant so much to him because Paul had seen many

disappointments throughout his ministries.

Some people starting out with Zeal, some people coming in and

out some people walking out in the ministry, but with Timothy,

there was something special. He was sold out to Christ.

And Paul had a special affection for him in the spirit and this

letter gives us a glimpse in went to one of the most intimate

and transparent moments in the life of the Apostle.

Paul. He is sharing his thoughts.

Yes, and he's sharing truths, but he is also showing us by the

spirit, a special bond that he has with another cold labor in

Christ. And I believe that as you read

second, Timothy, if you read it with that kind of a lens, it

would challenge you and I to reflect on our own relationships

with others in comparison. Them and see what really binds

us to other people. You read about Paul and Timothy

and you know that what they shared was this a dedication to

the gospel a love for Christ, they lived for no other thing.

And this is why they had such an intimate relationship and May

challenge us to reflect. What we do with our

relationships. What connects us to others and

even the language of Paul here. In this personal metal should

stir us as Christians is to know how we should encourage one

another build up. One another stir up, one another

as we seek to serve the Lord together.

But this letter is even more unique because of the timing.

It is Paul's final letter. It's his concluding letter.

This letter invites us to the brink of a man's martyrdom as

you and I read this. We know that in second.

Timothy look at chapter 4, verse 6 with me quickly.

We are aware that Paul is in prison, but we know more.

He says, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering

and the time of my departure has come when you read, Paul's other

prison Epistles. He often shares, his hope that

he will be released. He has this faith that he's

going to come out of it. He knows that it's just a

temporary moment just to season. But in this letter, he shares,

no hope. He knows that this is the final

End of the Road. His departure has come history

tells us that while Paul wrote this letter Nero, the Roman

Emperor broke out and mass persecution against the

Christians and he was hunting them down and he was causing

Society to turn on believers. And Paul here is a victim of

that persecution. And here he is in prison, and he

knows full well, that at any moment, a Roman official will

come into his dungeon and call his name, to lead him to his

final exit. And so you and I before us with

these words, have the preserved words of the Holy Spirit of a

man who is facing death. Of a man who is about to enter

into glory and that is special for us for many reasons.

Because the reality is from time to time facing death has a

purifying effect on what we prioritize in life.

Ecclesiastes. 7 2 says, it is better to go to the house of

mourning that to go to the house of feasting.

For this is the end of all mankind and the living will lay

it to heart. It is better to go to the house

of mourning than to go to the house of feasting for.

This is the end of all mankind and the living will lay it to

heart. You know, most people Dodge the

discussion about death and more than that.

They avoid the thought of it at all costs.

And this verse here in Ecclesiastes, doesn't teach us

to be more bid and to be preoccupied with dying.

No, it's giving us an Insight. It's showing us that in the

house of mourning. Provide some kind of a wisdom

that the distractions of the House of feasting cannot

provide. And even if you come to the

place where you behold death for a moment, you can learn much

about how to navigate through life.

It is the brevity of Our Lives. That makes us more thoughtful

with our days and careless with our hours.

And I believe that second Timothy, if we read it with

that, kind of a lens will provoke us.

Provoke us because we see here a man who has burned out for

Christ and was finished. Well, you know, showed us what

it really means to live a full life, a joyful life, a

meaningful life. We praise God for such a letter

as this because we know that we can draw some encouragement

from. And I believe from the first two

verses alone. We can pull out some insight.

I want us to ring out every single verse from this book.

It's not a very long book. So we should draw every drop of

truth that we can. And we will do that in verse one

alone. We can see three truths, three

truths of this man who is in such a dire situation.

Remember? He's not.

The American version of what prison looks like.

He's in a cold damp, stinking cell left himself abandoned by

his friends, his Partners in Ministry.

And knowing that at any moment, the cold breath of the Grave

will call for his head. But notice here, that as its man

is writing his final letter before his own death, the call

of God Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.

Now, that's interesting. The Apostle Paul is writing to

Timothy, Timothy knows. Paul Timothy understands Paul

Spiritual Authority. Why would Paul go out of his way

to reintroduce himself as an apostle?

We know that Timothy surely understands that but he's saying

it, I'm an apostle, this isn't To meet letter is that

necessary? Paul?

Well, it is necessary. When Timothy himself is a target

of persecution. He is going through difficult

circumstances himself. You read us and you knows he

needs encouragement. He needs to be built up and Paul

wants to make sure that he understands the words.

You're about to read come from God.

I am commissioned by the Lord as an apostle.

I've been called out to be a channel for divine revelation,

and I'm bringing that Revelation to you.

I want you to know Timothy that what you're about to see and

read. Read and understand comes from

the heart of your master of your lord, which tells us the very

simple truth of the greatest encouragement that you and I can

receive are the truths from the almighty, unchanging God.

And that's what you wants to provide him.

My words are authoritative my words come from him and they are

for you. But Paul mentioning his

apostleship goes beyond, just the authority of what he's about

to say, I believe that what Paul is saying here is highlighting

how he personally lived on this Earth.

For the glory of God. I'm an apostle by the will of

God. in other words, one of the greatest Comforts that you can

have in this life other than having, the Assurance of

Salvation is to know that you lived your calling.

Is that you understood your purpose for God and you lived it

out for God? And I think that Paul is saying

something of this sort here. I'm an apostle by the will of

God. I have performed, the will of

God in my final letter. I want to let you know that and

I am reflecting on that myself. I stumbled across a song not too

long ago. It's an old song and it

intrigued me. The lyrics intrigued me.

So I looked into it. I realize that it is one of the

most popular funeral songs. And it's not for Christian

funerals, of course, but generally speaking, it's one of

the most used songs for people to cope with death, and it's one

of the most used songs for people to request that their

burial. You've probably heard it.

It's been made popularized by Frank Sinatra, My Way.

You heard it. Well, here are some lyrics to

consider from that song. Listen, and now the end is near

and so I face that final curtain.

My friend. I'll make it clear.

I'll State my case. Case of which I'm certain, I've

lived a life that's full. I traveled each and every

Highway and more much more. I did it.

I did it my way. If somebody would have sung that

at the Apostle Paul's Funeral, I'm sure he would have

resurrected just to rebuke the guy.

I did it my way. I did it my way.

No, Paul would never say such a thing.

He would say, I obeyed the heavenly vision that I've

received from him. I obeyed the will of God for my

life. He called me to be an apostle.

So that's what I honored him with to be an apostle.

And you're going to see later on that Paul will expand on his Joy

of how he fulfilled his purpose on the earth for God.

And it's no wonder because he is reflecting the attitude of his

Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ.

When he said these words near the end of his own life and John

John 17:4

17:4. I glorified you on Earth.

Having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.

I read that last night in a move, me to tears.

Jesus saying to the father. I glorified you on Earth.

I did what you called me to do. I pray that you would be able to

say those words. If you know your death is

coming, you would constantly be able to say before God.

I glorified you. I didn't do it my way.

I didn't live life to my understanding of what it means

to live life to the full. No, I glorified you.

What's amazing about the life of Jesus as that?

It wasn't a long life, but it was a full life.

If somebody died at the age of 33 today, even a Christian, most

people would think what a what a loss.

He's gone too soon. And the human sense that that

may be true, but then Jesus would have gone too soon.

According to the understanding that we believe that.

No, see, that's old Covenant thinking because in the old

Covenant, the emphasis of blessing, one of them is a long

life, many, many years being lived and we could equate that

today as well as a blessing. But there's a different emphasis

in the New Covenant and that is exemplified by Christ.

It's not about the amount of years.

It's what you do with those years.

It's the fullness of life and Jesus Christ.

The earliest recorded words of him in the gospels is found in

Luke at the age of what 12 years old.

Those are the first words, uttered from the Son of God and

is preteen years. And you know what, that sentence

was that came from those holy lips.

Even at that point of his life and Luke 2:49 when his parents

Luke 2:49

were looking for his Earthly parents.

He said to them. Why were you Looking for me.

Did you not know that I must be in my father's house?

Other translations. Did you not know that I must be

about my father's business. And so even at 12 years old,

Christ consecrated himself, the revelation of who he was was

blossoming and these are the earliest recorded words of who

he was and what he lived for. And as he approached the

finality of his life. He could say, I glorified you on

the Earth. I'm about my father's business.

I'm here to fulfill his will, and it's amazing and verse 50.

They did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.

Didn't understand what you're 12 years old.

You're about your father's business.

Seeing that time for Jewish culture.

When you are 12 13, you would you would begin to learn your

father's trade. And Jesus, here is doing that.

He's at the right point of life, but he is imitating his heavenly

father. He's saying I'm here to preach

the word because he was teaching in the temple.

This is what I've came to do to show the truth to declare the

truth. And even after that they said,

well, you're still our son so he had to submit to them.

And listen that was still the will of God.

So you might be wondering what is it that I must be doing to go

about my father's business and you have all these radical

amazing plans that rush through your mind.

But in this case at this point in Jesus life, yeah, he was

teaching but that was only for a moment.

He's submitted to his parents and he was equally fulfilling

the will of God. He was obeying and we see here

that Paul is saying, I'm an apostle by the will of God and

I've been doing it up to this very moment.

He reflected on the call of God, but him, mentioning his

apostleship goes even deeper than that because it is not just

him reflecting about his faithfulness to the mission that

God had ordained for his life. It's also a recollection of the

wonderful mercies of the master. What do I mean by that?

You and I have every reason to believe that whenever Paul

mentioned his apostleship those who read it were alarmed by The

Authority. This is an apostle.

While at the same time. Paul would be lavished by fresh

sense of the grace of God. Because every time he knew that

he was an apostle and he declared that he was an apostle,

he knew that he didn't deserve to be an apostle. 1st

Corinthians 15, he tells a very plain and clear in verse 9.

For I am the least of the Apostles.

I am the least of the Apostles, unworthy to be called an

apostle. Because I persecuted the Church

of God, you have many people that discourage Christians from

reflecting on their past and I would discourage you of

reflecting on your past of all that brings about his guilt and

shame. I would but this man didn't

forget his past. He reflected, he understood.

It was ever before him, but it only provoked worship.

It, provoked, an understanding of the grace of God, it

magnified, the Lord, and his affections, and his adoration.

And so here, he says, I know what I did.

I killed Christians, but oh, here's the grace of God.

Here's the mercy of God. Here's the wonderful tender

kindness and compassion of God. I'm not worthy to be called an

apostle. Do you think anytime he said in

one of his introductions? I am an apostle that he said, it

would Pride with arrogance with his nose.

Lifted up. No, he understood full.

Well that what I was able to do on the Earth was simply by the

mercy and grace of God. I'm an apostle Timothy.

Paul was a preacher of Grace and often time the grace that was

connected to the Cross of Christ.

But that's not only the Grace that he preached about.

There is a Grace for service, not just salvation that he

declared. Yes, Christ called me to be in

his kingdom though. I persecuted his own body.

But Christ also elevated me and called me to be one of his

ambassadors. And here's the beauty about

that. You and I not only have the

invitation to know the comfort of Salvation and the grace of

God in that. If you're humble and hungry

enough, you can do a lifelong experience of different series

of his grace by him. Letting you use you for his

glory. Many Christians don't know those

Grace's because they're not hungry enough.

They want to do a Frank Sinatra's way.

I'm saved. Thank God.

I got my ticket to heaven, but I'm going to do it my way.

Do it my way. And you waste a Grace that God

longs to fill your life with. It's a Grace that you might

know, and that he uses you for something.

And you say I'm not worthy to be using this way.

He uses you to touch somebody else's life.

He uses you to do something wonderful out of the ordinary.

Oftentimes, it's the grace that you feel with the strength that

you're able to endure, knowing that in the natural, you would

throw in the towel. It's a Grace to love the

unlovable, to forgive the unforgivable.

To give what you would not give if you did not have Christ.

Raining in your heart. Wonderful graces are waiting for

you to experience, but you have to be like this man who says, I

count my life. I have no value.

Unless I fulfill the call of God on my life.

And this man was an apostle and he understood that he was an

apostle because of God's grace. And I guarantee you, if you set

your life apart, for the glory of God, at the end of the road,

you will look back and all you will see is his Grace Grace upon

Grace, upon Grace. This man was be, he was able to

identify his grace and absolutely everything.

Look what he says here in 1st Corinthians 15:10, but by the

grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace toward me was not

in vain on the contrary. I worked harder than any of

them. Oh, Paul, don't be so proud.

You worked harder than any of them.

If we heard somebody say that today would say he Sky needs a

spiritual shower. Who says I work harder than any

of them. Well, finish though.

It was not I but the grace of God that is in me.

Grace, not just for salvation, not just to be called into

service. But Grace, for the strength, to

endure to be faithful to be fruitful Grace everywhere.

And here is, you writes to Timothy goes.

I'm an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, and you can

write in parentheses by the grace of God.

There he is sitting in that darkroom reflecting on the fact

that he lived his life in such a manner and it was only because

God was merciful toward him. You and I have the opportunity

to know that same Grace. But we have to be hungry to do,

his will. But it goes beyond that Paul, an

apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, according to the

promise of the life. That is in Christ Jesus.

See what he's saying. Yeah, I am an apostle.

I obeyed his will that's all by the grace of God, but now, I'm

looking forward to a promise that has my name on it according

to the promise of the life. That is where only in Christ

Jesus and Paul love to use those words in Christ Jesus.

And This Promise of the life that is in Christ.

Jesus is a two-fold promise. It's a promise that's connected

to what he said. I lived the will of God.

See there's only true life in Christ Jesus and he experienced

that side of the promise. I know this life that Abundant

Life that amazing life, that wonderful life.

I often say this. You you cannot even measure up.

If you had all the resources in the world, all the It's all the

opportunities to do what you want.

It would not even come close to the will of God for your life.

And this man knew that the promise of life that is in

Christ Jesus, I experienced it. But there's another side of the

promise. It's the life to come.

It's a life that he will experience very shortly.

It's a life. That is eternal.

And what's amazing is that it's a promise that he was holding

onto, this is not a phrase that Paul often uses in his

introductions in his letter, but it was appropriate here.

I'm reflecting right away. And I want to comfort.

You Timothy right away. I'm not going to see you most

likely unless you hurry up and get here.

And he says that later on. But I'm clinging to a promise.

A promise that will help me endure, these chains that will

help me endure beheading. And here's what I want to say to

you this morning. Jesus Christ has made you a

personal promise. Listen now, forget everybody

else in this room just for a moment.

And hear my words toward you. Okay, Jesus Christ has made a

personal promise to you. Now, that might not mean much to

you, especially in a day where people say, yes and no one break

those promises, but let me remind you what Titus 1 tells us

about this. God, in verse 2.

Listen carefully. It says in Hope of eternal life

of God. Who never lies?

Promise before the ages began in Hope of eternal life.

In which god, listen who never lies.

Promise. Before the ages began.

We were talking about a God who can't lie.

He can't and he made you a promise this morning and that

promise was found in John 11:25 and 26.

John 11:25

Jesus said to Martha. I am the resurrection and the

life. I am the resurrection and the

life whoever believes in me, though.

He die, yet shall he live? Whoever, whoever?

And everyone who lives and Believes In Me, shall never die.

And here's the question for you this morning.

Do you believe this? Do you believe this whoever

believes in me? Does it matter greater small?

Rich or poor? Whoever believes in me will

never die. You know that truth, if you

really believe it. Will help you interpret what Job

Calls the king of Terrors, which is death.

In a whole new light. One of my favorite books.

Thus far is a book by John Flavel or Flavel called facing

grief, and I would actually recommend that book from the

pulpit to you. Because it deals with a ancient

writer who had lost many people in his life to death, including

a child and three different wives.

I believe. Imagine that you married one

died. The second one died.

Third one died. And I think the fourth one

survivor of the third one survived.

And this man from that pain, received an authority to speak

on Grief. And it's no wonder because when

you read that book, you come into insights, that will blow

you away. And one of the things that touch

my heart is from one of the chapters in which he encourages

Christians who have experienced loss and I want you to hear

these words. Listen carefully, John Flavel

says that is listen, look not upon the dead as a Lost

Generation. Think not that death has

annihilated and utterly destroyed them.

Oh, no, they are not dead. But only sleep, and if they

sleep, they shall awake again, you do not use to make out cries

and Lamentations for your children and friends.

When you find them asleep upon their beds, why death is, but a

longer sleep out of which they shall surely awake as ever, they

did in the morning in this world.

You see what he's saying. You never came after a late

night into your home. And saw your children sleeping

in bed and ripped your garments and put ashes on your head

because they're asleep. You never stumbled upon your

spouse on the couch after a long afternoon, taking a nap and wept

your eyes out because they were asleep.

Why? Because, you know, that they're

going to wake up any moment. And what he's saying here is

that in Christ, death is just about a longer sleep.

One day, they're going to wake up.

And that's the hope that you and I had that's the promise.

And here's the thing. It's going to be the best beauty

sleep. They've ever had.

You know, why? Because they're going to wake up

glorified. In splendor and Majesty.

And you're going to be amazed at the promise that is in Christ.

Jesus fulfilled. In those that you love and

fulfill. They knew when you were in

Christ. It's just longer sleep.

That's what this promise does. It surges such a Grace and

strength for you to not only interpret death in such a way.

But even if you like, Paul stared death in the eyes, you

can know a certain Grace. Because why this Timothy this

Timothy that's receiving this letter is being encouraged.

You read on as we're going to discover and he's actually

getting weak in the faith. He's letting his spiritual

gifts, it aside and Paul's like no fan into flame, put things in

order, don't lose your seal suffer for Christ.

I mean, if there's anybody that needs encouragement from a

letter, it's Paul. You're the one in the prison.

You're the one that's about to be executed.

Where are the letters coming in? No, he's sending letters out.

Why? Because he has a promise with

his name on it. And it's so powerful.

It's so profound that it even gave him the energy to motivate

someone else that is not in the same predicament as him.

That's What Faith Can Do. That's What Faith Can Do.

It frames thing in such a way where, you know, Supernatural

compassion, even in the midst of your own sorrows.

And Paul is doing that, and that's why he says, in verse 2

Timothy. My beloved child, what

tenderness and compassion? What comforting words?

I love you. I want to show you how much I

love you. I'm going to instruct you as a

father. Now as this man has rats running

around his feet. Small rations of food living

with any human with the anxiety of one day.

I'm going to leave never to return again.

Because he had a promise and this is what he says grace mercy

and peace from God the father again.

He's reflecting Christ didn't Christ, hang there on the cross,

having the whole weight of the sin of the world upon his

shoulders and he looks down and he sees his mother.

And he assigns a caretaker for her while he is suffering.

And Paul is doing the same to some degree.

He's tapped into a Grace because of a promise of life that is in

Christ Jesus. And here is where we're going to

do something a little interesting because I've never

done this in a message. I never gone through books this

fast, but I want to show you something.

He says grace, mercy and peace. No word is by accident in the

Holy Bible. No.

Word is by accident. And I want to prove that to you.

You have your Bibles with you this morning?

I hope so. Go to the Book of Romans.

I want you to see and compare every other introduction that

Paul gives in his letters and we're going to do this by just

skipping Stones over the surface of these books, Romans chapter

Romans 1:7

1, verse 7, you ready to all those in Rome who are loved by

God and called to be Saints. Grace to you and peace from God.

Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

They're right. Let's go to First Corinthians 1.

Verse 3. Grace to you and peace from God,

our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

He see it. Second Corinthians.

Verse 1. Rather verse 2 of chapter 1.

This is going to be worth it. I promise, okay. grace to you

and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Galatians 1 Verse 3. Grace to you and peace from God.

Galatians 1:3

Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 1 verse 2.

Ephesians 1:2

Maybe some of you are getting it all ready grace to you and

Priests peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ. Now skip over to Philippians 1

Philippians 1:2

verse 2 Just a few pages grace to you and peace from God, our

Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1 verse 2, to the Saints and faithful brothers in

Colossians 1:2

Christ are colossi grace to you and peace from God.

Our Father. 1st Thessalonians, 1.

Verse 2, verse 1. Rather Paul saw Donna, Saint

Timothy to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the father

and the Lord Jesus Christ grace to you and peace.

Second Thessalonians 1. We're almost there verse 2 grace

to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ. And finally skip over a few

books and the short letter to Philemon.

Sure enough and verse 3, grace to you and peace from God, our

Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace.

Grace to you and peace Grace. Um, Peace, grace to you and

peace. Grace to you, and peace.

Grace to you and peace. And then you go to 1st Timothy.

What do you read in verse 2 of chapter?

1 2. Timothy.

My true child in the faith Grace.

What's that word? Say Mercy?

And peace from God, the father and Christ Jesus.

Our lord 2nd Timothy. You read it.

Now, you will only see this. Unfortunately, the ESV does a

disservice to this, you'll only see this.

If you have a King James and new King James, but go to the book

of Titus. Verse 1.

Chapter 1, rather verse 4 to Titus.

Mine, own son, after the common Faith, grace, mercy, and peace

from God, the father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior.

Three out of all those letters. Paul includes the word mercy.

And he reserves using that word and 10 of them.

When he uses the word mercy, do you know where he uses him?

When he used them? Why he uses them every time the

word mercy was used. It was in the Pastoral letters.

In other words. He used the word mercy when he

was directing his letter to a full-time minister.

That's significant. Because it shows that Paul

didn't AdWords or subtract words randomly.

It wasn't just such a general salutation, know it was

calculated. And here's the understanding.

It's not that people who are not ministers, don't need Mercy.

It's that ministers who serve full-time are in need of extra

Mercy. And he knew that very well as a

minister himself. And so he says, Mercy.

I call upon God, to give you Mercy, Timothy and Titus Mercy

can be understood as a kindness and compassion, that is shown

towards somebody who offends and you know this very well that

when a spiritual leader offends, there's greater weight than

consequence to it. Causing Greater Mercy to be

needed. For the shortcomings and the

blunders and the failure to be an example.

Paul says, Timothy, I'm asking God that you would experience a

Greater Mercy. Because you're going to need it.

And I'm going to give you Mercy through my compassion and this

letter. You know, what I learned from

that. Here's how I'm challenged.

His greetings alone, display his thoughtfulness for each and

every single, one of the Believers that he knew.

He was in general. He wasn't just throwing words

for the sake of saying certain things know he understood the

particular needs of every individual and he translated his

prayers and he translated his words and his encouragement to

cater to those specific needs Timothy and Titus needed mercy,

so I'm asking God to give you Mercy.

That's how much love this man had.

And we dare not think for a moment that his love is greater

than the love of Jesus Christ. It's a particular singular

unique, love that he has for each and every single one of us

in this place by name by name. I hope you would believe that

this morning. The Paul here is concerned about

Timothy's condition at Titus condition and he knows how to

deal with the Romans and the Galatians.

Do you not think that your master cares about you with your

particular situation and Circumstance.

Do you not believe that he will provide the exact grace and

mercy and peace for you and Supply it in another way for

somebody else. He knows how to walk with us

individually. See it's one thing to know.

Jesus Christ loves the world will praise God.

Jesus Christ loves his church. How does Yeah.

But how much do you research rehearsal over your soul that

Jesus Christ loves me. Loves me personally me.

And if we think that's a stretch, and if we think that's

too much and if we think that that's something that we

shouldn't do, because it glorifies self.

Well, then you have problems with the love of Christ.

In John 11 when Lazarus was sick.

We are told by the Holy Spirit and verse 5.

Now, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus individually

with a particular love, a special love.

Do you think Martha Mary and Lazarus were all the same?

Do you think I had the same personalities?

Do you think that had the same spiritual?

Disciplines you read about Martha.

She was the one running around working and getting distracted

and Mary's. They're sitting sitting at Jesus

feet and Lazarus was just quiet. I don't know where he was.

They're different. Different temperaments.

Different challenges, different failures, different pros and

cons. And yet Christ equal love equal.

Love for each of them. And that's what we have to

understand here. Is that the love of Christ can

so Phyllis? That we look at every single

person around us. And we are magnetized to

catering to their specific needs.

And their cares and their weaknesses.

And like Christ we manifest exactly what it is that they

need in our tenderness like Paul does with Timothy here.

You're in need of Mercy right now, Timothy.

And I'm asking God that you would know that Mercy, That's

The Power of understanding, this promise that is in Christ Jesus

of life. And in this short introduction

this morning, I want us to prepare for what we are about to

read because it's about to encourage us to live a life.

That knows the life that is in Christ Jesus, a radical life.

It's a life of surrender to life that will demand obedience, but

it is a life that will know joy and pleasure and bless others.

I look at this man again. And in conclusion, I say this.

My faith can be so in tune with the power of God that I can be

at the brink of my own martyrdom.

And in my thinking, care about a discourage brother, who's in his

house, Sam must reach out to him before.

I don't have the chance to do so anymore.

I know we all have weaknesses. I know.

We all have discouraging moments.

I know we have bad days, but I want to encourage you with 1.1

driving Point as a result of this Sunday morning service.

We can know such a relationship with Christ that self is

eliminated. That self is eliminated and we

are so preoccupied with the needs and the Brokenness of

others. And I don't want to be a

Christian. That's so caught up in my own

desires and wishes and longings that I forget to know that there

is a Grace that I can experience that house me look outward and

not in word all the time. And I pray that that would be

our desire in this place. Grace mercy, and peace to you

Timothy and we're going to prepare ourselves in the weeks

ahead for what he's going to say.

Let's pray together. Father, we thank you.

For the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.

Thank you, that you are the resurrection and the life and

that whoever believes in you, even though he dies yet.

Shall he live? Do we pray that we would know

that life that promised I would so strengthen us that it would

help us strengthen others Lord. In this place.

We pray that every person in here would know the will of God

for their lives. And that no matter what success

you bring through them what opportunities open for them?

They would never fail to realize it is by the grace of God.

By the grace of God, I am what I am and Lord in these two verses

we received much, and we ask you to help us be like this man.

Paul, who is able to think of another, even as he faced death.

Surely this is by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Surely. This is something that is

Unleashed when truth is really trusted in and we pray now Lord

that we would feel that Grace that makes us feel undefeated.

The king of Terrors according to job.

Is incapable of intimidating us to sorrow.

To fear. To guilt.

And that even in our last moments, we can be a blessing to

others. Lord.

What an amazing. Truth help us arrive there.

God, please help us arrive there that we worship you for this

promise. We glorify you in this house, in

Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Amen.