mission: do not go quietly

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12723 2 Timothy 4:9-22.  Paul’s final words written to Timothy are not the words of someone resigned to rest upon his accomplishments.  He knows that he will soon die for his faith, but he will not go quietly.

  1. Many of his associates had left him by this time – some out of fear, others he had sent out to recover from illness, or to work elsewhere (9-10, 12, 20).
  2. But he was working with Luke, and he asks Timothy to bring Mark, who will also be useful to him for ministry. Perhaps the usefulness of these two men rests in the fact that both of them have been chosen by the Holy Spirit to produce the written scriptures? (11).
  3. He wants to use his remaining time studying and writing and speaking to whomever will listen. To that end, he asks Timothy to bring his winter cloak and his books and parchments (13, 21).
  4. His objective remains the same to the very last.  He lives to proclaim the gospel message so that all the Gentiles might hear it (17).

None of us know how much time we have left.  As we get older, we do get clear impressions that our time is limited.  These should not lead us to resign ourselves to uselessness.  We should instead resolve to expend every last bit of energy doing the mission for which we were called.

LORD, we “rage against the dying light.”  We “will not go quietly into that good night.”  We resolve to burn brightly until we burn out for you.

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mission: continue in what you have learned

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12722 2 Timothy 3:10-4:8.  Paul knew that he was “already being poured out as a drink offering” and it was time for him to depart this life (4:6).  He expected to be raised to life again, and to get his reward from the Lord on the Day of his appearing  (4:1,8).  His instructions to Timothy were to continue on in what he has learned (3:14).  He knew Timothy would do that because…

  1. Paul had set an example  of faithfulness to the LORD in spite of suffering as a result of that faithfulness (3:10-14).
  2. The sacred writings of scripture are able to equip Timothy to do what God wants him to do (3:15-16).
  3. Timothy had been given a ministry to fulfill – and would do that in spite of what the world around him does (4:2-5).
  4. The same reward that Paul expected would await Timothy – providing he fight the same fight, finish the same course, and keep the same faith (4:1,6-8).

LORD, we commit ourselves to continuing in what we have learned.  Keep us faithful to that commitment.

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mission: avoid the opposition

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12719

2 Timothy 3:1-9.  Paul’s picture of the last days is frighteningly accurate.  He describes difficult times that will come because of ungodly people.  These people are:

 

  • lovers of self,
  • lovers of money,
  • proud,
  • arrogant,
  • abusive,
  • disobedient to their parents,
  • ungrateful,
  • unholy,
  • heartless,
  • unappeasable,
  • slanderous,
  • without self-control,
  • brutal,
  • not loving good,
  • treacherous,
  • reckless,
  • swollen with conceit,
  • lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (2-4).

He concludes his list of attributes of end-times people by saying that they have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power.

Paul pulls the whole instruction back to the present by telling Timothy to avoid such people (5).  The opposition that Timothy should be concerned with is present within the first-century church itself.  They prey upon the weak, lead them away from God by their arrogant teachings, and will oppose Timothy just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses.  Even though they are known as scholars, all their learning never leads them to accept the truth (7).  Their true loves are self, money, and pleasure. All such people eventually crash and burn.  Their folly becomes plain to all.  Their lives of selfishness in the name of God bring dishonor to his name.

Timothy is not simply to avoid such people personally.  He is responsible to appoint leaders in Ephesus.  He needs to take care that the leaders he appoints are not like those self-proclaimed experts: men with corrupt minds who are disqualified regarding the faith.

Timothy’s mission is ours today.  Paul’s list described modern society so well that we cannot escape the assumption that we are living in the last days he predicted.  Avoiding unqualified leaders in the church should be simple.  We just have to reject those people who fit comfortably into our godless society.

LORD, give us discernment.  Help us to follow those who truly follow you, not just those who claim to know about you.

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mission: be devoted to discipling

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12734 2 Timothy 2.  False teaching had infested Ephesus, so Paul warned Timothy to avoid its “irreverent babble” because it would “lead people into more and more ungodliness” (16).  He instructed Timothy not to debate these teachers, because their “foolish, ignorant controversies” only “breed quarrels” (23).  Instead, Paul urged Timothy to faithfully, methodically teach some faithful men, discipling them so that they can in turn disciple others.

  1. Discipling requires long-term, undistracted commitment.  Paul uses the metaphors of the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer to get that point across (3-7).
  2. Discipling requires faithfulness in sharing the gospel message about Jesus Christ and the salvation and glory he has made possible.  Even if we suffer for preaching this message, we do it for the sake of those elect who will hear and be saved (8-13).
  3. Discipling requires rightly handling the word of truth.  Some in Ephesus were teaching “that the resurrection had already happened” and “were upsetting the faith of some” (18).  The discipler needs to know how to do proper exegesis and should be trained in systematic theology.  Paul urged Timothy to work hard for God’s approval so that those he trained would be approved as well (14-19).
  4. Discipling requires cleansing oneself from “what is dishonorable” so that the discipler can be “a vessel for honorable use.”  For Timothy, that meant fleeing “youthful passions” and pursuing “righteousness, faith, love and peace.”  He had to stay away from “foolish, ignorant controversies” and correct his opponents with gentleness.  There is no fighting fire with fire for the discipler (20-26).

LORD, make us disciplers.  Make us workers approved by God for the task of communicating his word.

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mission: do not be ashamed

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12719 2 Timothy 1:8-18.  Most of the leaders in the churches of Asia Minor had already stopped visiting Paul – apparently ashamed that he was still imprisoned.  In this section, Paul explains why Timothy should not join them, in deserting him out of shame.

  1. The same God who called them by power and purpose has predestined that Paul suffer for the gospel (8-9).
  2. What Jesus did when he appeared among us is of utmost importance, and Paul was called to proclaim and explain that fact.  His chains attest to the importance of what Christ did for us (10-12a).
  3. Paul knows that Jesus is able to guard what had been entrusted to him and will vindicate his suffering at his second coming.  He also trusts that the Holy Spirit will help Timothy guard the gospel message entrusted to him (12b-14).
  4. Some have abandoned Paul, but others have not.  Timothy should follow the example of Onesiphorus, who ministered to and for Paul both in Rome and in Ephesus (15-18).

The gospel message is wrapped up in the packages of the lives the LORD sends to proclaim it.  Our loyalty to them reflects our loyalty to that message. Perhaps the LORD will impress upon your mind today some faithful servants who shared God’s word with you years ago.  Some of them are on the sidelines now, and feel the loneliness. Seek those saints out,  and let them know how much you appreciate their ministry. 

LORD, we thank you for those saints that you have appointed to share the gospel with us.  If possible, help us to remember to thank them for their faithfulness.  They were not ashamed of the gospel. May we not give the impression that we are ashamed of them.

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mission: revive the passion

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12708 2 Timothy 1:1-7.  Paul’s final words to Timothy are recorded in this letter.  They reveal the priorities of a man who was impassioned with the gospel.

  1. He was motivated by the “promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus.”  As he waited in a Roman prison to die, no other motivation could sustain him.  He lived for the resurrection unto eternal life promised him by the one he met on the Damascus road (1-2).
  2. He remembered those people who had been transformed by the gospel.  timothy was the third generation that Paul had seen miraculously changed by faith in Christ (4-5).
  3. He urged Timothy to revive the passion that his faith once produced.  He recalls the day when he laid his hands on Timothy and the Holy Spirit manifested.  Perhaps that day Timothy spoke an impassioned evangelistic message, full of “power and love and self-control”? (6-7).

It is that passionate response to the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit that Paul thinks of when he prays for Timothy.  It reminds him that the power of God is ongoing.  It will survive us.  It is stronger than this generation.

It remains for us to make sure that we do not fail the power within.  If we are not careful,  the embers of that flame might just die down die to apathy and distraction.  We need to fan the fire into flames again.

LORD, revive us again.  Rekindle our souls with your fire from above.  May the passion burn within us, so that the next generation can experience your deliverance.

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mission: pursue godliness, not riches

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12697 1 Timothy 6:3-21.  Paul’s final words to Timothy in this letter identify a false teaching in Ephesus that Timothy must publically reject, because it will do much harm.  It is the teaching that the faith will lead to wealth.

  1. Those who adopt this false teaching will get into many arguments about the meaning of words.  Their fellowship will be disrupted by envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction (3-10).
  2. Instead of riches, believers should pursue lives of godliness and take hold of the eternal life to which they were called.  That is what they are to aim for, and they will receive it by grace when Christ appears (11-16).
  3. The rich in this present age should serve as good examples of this reality.  They should use their wealth to do good works, but avoid giving the impression that they have arrived at their spiritual goal.  They also must take hold of that which is truly life (17-19).

Paul concludes the letter encouraging Timothy to “guard the deposit” that had been “entrusted” to him.  He uses banker’s terms because he is identifying the true wealth that the gospel brings.   The coming kingdom will bring riches and great honor.  But believers should not “set their hopes” on the uncertainty of present riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy (17).

LORD, our hope is your kingdom at your return.  It is that kingdom which we pursue – that eternal life which we are taking hold of.

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mission: manage the ministry

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12694 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2.  As a missionary, tasked with the role of developing the churches in Ephesus, Timothy had the responsibility to see to it that the various ministries were staffed.  Paul gives him instructions on how to honor those who serve in various ministry capacities, and how to avoid problems that might arise.

  1. Some widows who had lo livelihood or families to support them were tasked with a support and prayer ministry.  Paul instructs Timothy on who qualifies for that ministry and who does not (5:3-16).
  2. Elders should be appointed who are qualified for the task, without partiality. Timothy is charged to base his appointments on merit (5:17-25).
  3. Slaves who have believing masters should not be allowed to volunteer for ministry tasks to get out of their regular work (6:1-2).

People management is some of the messy work of missions, but it is very important.  In non-profit organizations, personnel decisions are crucial.  Volunteers may surface for a variety of reasons – not all of them legitimate.  Managing the mission requires insight into motives, and an awareness of potential problems.  Those tasked with mission or ministry management must also be careful that their own motives are pure, so that the LORD himself is not dishonored.

LORD, help us to make right decisions about the people who minister among us.  May we honor them and be careful not to dishonor you.

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mission: demonstrate true godliness

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

 SDC12693 1 Timothy 4.  Paul predicts a time in the future (from his standpoint) when the church would experience a departure from true godliness and follow deceitful spirits and teachings of demons (1).  He charged Timothy to “put these things before the brothers” – in other words, explain to them and demonstrate for them the difference between true and false godliness.

  1. The false godliness would involve declaring as taboo certain gifts (marriage and certain foods). True godly people enjoy those gifts and thank God for them, sanctifying the gifts by the word of God and prayer.
  2. The false godliness would abandon the clear meaning of scripture, adopting irreverent, silly myths that would lead the church away from true godliness.  The outcome will be religion without inner change.  True godly people train themselves so that their faith meets the practical needs of today and prepares them for the future (8).

Paul charged Timothy with the responsibility to set an example for the believers “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (12).  He had to demonstrate what true godliness looked like.  He also had to immerse his congregations in the word of God.  He was to devote himself “to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching” (13).  The best way to prevent false teaching is to train in the truth.

LORD, save us false religion which destroys true godliness.  We have set our hope on you, the living God.

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mission: display godly behavior

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12691 1 Timothy 3.  Paul’s reason for giving qualification lists in this chapter is not simply administrative.  He wants the churches to display proper conduct. The body of believers is the household (family) of God, the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth (15).  We ought to mimic the mystery of godliness, which was Christ himself as he walked among us. Those who serve as elders (overseers and deacons) must be capable of demonstrating that godliness:

  1. They must have solid marriages,
  2. They must be able to control their (adult) children,
  3. They must have personal self-control,
  4. They must maintain a good reputation,
  5. They must have proved themselves by experience.

The leaders are out-front. They reflect the character of the organization. Special care must be taken to provide for leaders who reflect the standards set by the LORD. His reputation is at stake.

LORD,  may we be careful to reflect your godliness in all that we do. May we be wise enough to choose leaders who will honor you with their behavior.

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