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 2 Timothy 3: 1-9: The last days.(please click here for todays passage)

I’ve often been asked this question (or something like it): ‘’I think we must be in the last days don’t you pastor?’’ What the people who ask this question mean is that they believe we are in ‘the last of the last days’ just before Jesus returns. I don’t know whether or not that is the case. I’m not going to join the ranks of the speculators and date-setters. What I do know is that we are nearer to Christ’s second coming than we were when we first believed, and we should always live in the light of His return – a reality someone described as living ‘’in the future tense.’’

Let me make one or two observations:

• Biblically speaking, we have been living in ‘’the last days’’ (1) for more than two thousand years. A study of this expression in the New Testament will show that it refers to the entire period between Jesus’ first and second comings. Paul was referring to people who were around in his day when he wrote these words – false teachers (5b-9). He wasn’t limiting his thoughts to two thousand years down the road. I very much doubt that he was thinking beyond his own times;
• We can use these words as a check-list. Are we like this in anyway? If we see any of these characteristics in ourselves let’s declare war on them and, in God’s strength, put them ‘out on the street’. There should be no home for them; no welcome mat put out by you and me;
• In particular, be aware of the danger of having an empty shell of a religion, with no heart, no nucleus, no centre (5). It is possible for Pentecostal, Charismatic and Evangelical churches to have a ‘’form of godliness’’, but to lack true life-changing power – form without fullness. That thought scares me. I don’t want ‘’Ichabod’’ (meaning ‘’the glory has departed’’) to be written over our church or my ministry;
• There will be people in our day also who are always learning but never seem to fully respond to the truth (7). We should not surprised. It happened, and it will happen.

 2 Timothy 2:20-26: True nobility.(please click here for todays passage)

What do you need to cleanse yourself from? (21a). I know that ‘’…the blood of Jesus…cleanses us from all sin.’’ (1 John 1:7), but this is about repentance. This is about what you, and I, have to do – by God’s grace. So what’s impeding your progress? What is clogging up the channel of your ministry? Where is there a build-up of sinful plaque that might stop the flow altogether if it is not dealt with? It might prove dangerous – even fatal – to your spiritual health and effectiveness. What’s God talking to you about today and what are you going to do about it? Where are the ‘’ignoble’’ things needing to be cleansed away? An old hymn says, ‘’It is not trying, but trusting.’’ But the balanced truth is that it is both. We have a real part to play in our own spiritual growth, but we can only do what we have to as we continually ‘download’ God’s power.

‘’Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.’’ The Message.

This message is addressed to a human being who is responsible/accountable to do something about it.

Here are three complementary attitudes a Christian needs to hold – and especially a Christian leader, like Timothy – if they are to be ideal ‘containers’ for God to use; instruments ‘’for noble purposes’’ (21):

• With regard to sin, there must be total rejection/repudiation (21). There are things to run away from at full pelt (22a). In the radical words of Jesus, there are things to be ‘gouged out’ and ‘cut off’ (Matthew 5:29, 30). We cannot afford to be half-hearted about repentance. Firm resolve and self-discipline are required if we are to skedaddle from places where we’d quite like to loiter. The passage again reminds us of the need to put distance between ourselves and false teaching, and indeed everything that leads to division between God’s people (23ff.)
• With regard to holiness there must be pursuit. Go after these qualities with all your heart (22b): ‘’Run after mature righteousness – faith, love, peace – joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.’’ The Message. A John Pantry Song, ‘Empty handed’ has this line in it: ‘’Oh how I wanted to be godly.’’ Do you feel anything of that? Does it resonate with you at all? Do you share that heartbeat?
• With regard to people there must be kindness, patience and gentleness (24, 25). This particularly applies to those who are not easy. If people want to quarrel you may not be able to stop them, but don’t get sucked in. Never lose the hope that people can change. They can repent and be different. Persevere in your ministry trusting in God’s ability to transform. He did it for you, didn’t He? He can do this for others.

Prayer: Holy God, please show me everything that you want evicting from my life. Please give the strength and courage to show sin the door.

 2 Timothy 2:8-13: ‘’Remember Jesus Christ…’’

If you are going to suffer, and be single-minded, like a soldier (3, 4) remember Jesus Christ.

If you’re going to live right like a disciplined athlete (5), remember Jesus Christ.

If you’re going to work hard like a farmer (6), remember Jesus Christ.

If you’re going to be able to bear mistreatment for the sake of the gospel (8b), remember Jesus Christ.

If you want to be willing, like Paul, to pay any price that the elect might be saved (10), remember Jesus Christ.

Remember who Jesus is, and all that He is, and everything He has done, and it will help you to keep going (11-13) when times are hardest. It will keep you from disowning Him under pressure. (But whatever you and I do, the Lord will ‘’remain faithful’’. He cannot be untrue to Himself.)

Remember Him not as you think of a dead hero. Remember Him as the One who died and rose again (8). He’s still around! He’s the Christ who beat death, and in Him we overcome too (11, 12). ‘’…God’s word is not chained.’’ (9). No opposition, however severe, can prevent God’s Word from prevailing: ‘’…but God’s Word isn’t in jail!’’ The Message. And remember that Jesus is the living ‘’Word’’ (John 1). He is active in the world He made and He is unstoppable. He is not manacled by anyone or anything.

Remember Him as the fulfilment of prophecy (8b: ‘’…descended from David.’’) and let your heart be encouraged.

‘’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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’’ Hebrews 12:3.

‘’When the road is rough and steep, keep your eyes upon Jesus.’’

Even when the road is somewhat easier, this is still the way to live: ‘’Looking unto Jesus…’’

‘’Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead.’’ The Message. He faced the worst and He came through it. So will you – in Him.

 2 Timothy 2: 1-7: Putting you in the picture.(Please click here for todays passage)

Here are three illuminating and helpful images of Christian leadership. It is good for us to reflect on these portraits (7), expecting God to help us to understand and apply their truths to our lives.

• The soldier (3, 4): This picture speaks of both willingness to suffer and the need to be focussed. We don’t want to be ‘chocolate soldiers’, as the missionary C.T.Studd put it, who ‘melt’ in the heat of battle. Nor should we allow ourselves to be distracted from our primary duties. ‘’A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up making deals at the market-place. He concentrates on carrying out orders.’’ The Message. ‘’…he wants to please his commanding officer.’’ New International Version.
• The athlete (5): The particular point emphasised here is the need for obedience. We are called to a life of righteousness. In the world of athletics cheats get disqualified if discovered. In order to run the Christian race there are certain things we have to do. Following God’s Word is not an optional matter.
• The farmer (6): Charles Swindoll quipped that many Christians seem to think the manual labour is the President of Mexico. We should not be afraid of hard work. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce.’’ The Message. In the context this is about church leaders receiving financial support. But it is important not to lose sight of the general principle that we should roll up our sleeves and labour.‘’Real ministry is hard work, and a pastor (and church members) ought to work in their spiritual field as diligently as a farmer works in his field. Pastors do not punch clocks, but they ought to be up in the morning and at their work just as if God blew a whistle for them.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (NT), p771. Wiersbe also adds that a pastor friend of his said to him, ‘’The harvest is not the end of the meeting – it is the end of the age.’’ That’s an important point to hold on to. I find this quote helpful: ‘’I consider the success of my day based on the seeds I sow, not the harvest I reap.’’ Robert Louis Stevenson. But there can be no reaping at any time without sowing.

A wise elderly pastor, who had been blessed with great success, said in my hearing, ‘There is no inspiration without perspiration.’ I believe he had a point.

 2 Timothy 2:1-5: Grace for our weakness.(please click here for todays passage)

Who does not feel weak in the face of the challenges, stresses and problems of life? What Christian does not know deep inside that they are inadequate to live as they know they should? Such feelings are good for us, and drive us to our knees to be able to draw, for strength, on all the grace available in Christ. The pressures are great, but the power on our side is even greater. At times the mountain peaks seem insurmountable. They tower over us in an intimidating fashion. But with the Holy Spirit in us (1:14), we can climb them and cross them.

This short passage is about strengthening. Paul writes tenderly to Timothy: ‘’You then, my child…’’ (ESV). This reminds me that it is important to speak well of and to each other. Words are important; how we employ them matters. Life and death are in the tongue. Paul strikes a parental note here (see 1:2). Mums and dads will want to encourage their children in times of fear. I vividly recall one night when I was just a little boy. The next day I had to face a huge challenge with a new teacher I was scared of. I felt terrified. As it happened, everything went well, (and isn’t it regularly like that?) but my fear of the encounter was off the scale. I can still feel now, forty or more years later, my mother’s love and encouragement surrounding me that evening. She wouldn’t let me off the hook. I had to go through with the meeting, but she put nerve into me to face the dreaded day. There was a helpful combination of softness and steel in how she handled me. The ministry of encouragement is invaluable.

Timothy had some scary giants surrounding him, but Paul encouraged his son in the faith. Note:

• We have all the strength we need in Christ (1), but we have to avail ourselves of it (see also Ephesians 6:10). It’s like, ‘The well is there. It is full of sweet water. It is yours without cost. But you will remain thirsty if you do not go to it, turn the handle, and bring the bucket to the surface.’ You get the picture. There are things we have to do to draw on the strength which is truly ours. The ‘land’ has been given to us, but we must ‘possess’ it.
• We are strengthened for a ministry of reproduction (2). I feel afresh today the challenge of these words. Who am I building into? Who am I investing my life in? Who am I discipling, mentoring, training? How seriously does the church take this issue? Here are two quotes I’ve read in the last couple of days that have some bearing on the subject: a.) ‘’There is nothing wrong with the church that discipleship will not cure.’’ Dallas Willard: ‘Living in Christ’s presence’, p.16;) ‘’The truth is no church, organization, or company can grow any faster than its ability to grow leaders.’’ Bob Tiede
• We are given strength to suffer (3). Soldiers on active duty do not expect ease or comfort. The job description involves danger. Many soldiers return home from the field of conflict traumatised because soldiering is not easy. We Christians are in a fierce fight. Things are not easy. But take heart, the strength within us is greater than the foes around us. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord, I am strong in you. Help me to keep remembering who I am and what I have in Christ.

 Jeremiah 26:16-24: Against the tide.(please click here for todays passage)

My lovely pastor at the ‘Elim’ church in Wigan, Terry Jacobs, often would say: ‘’Any dead old fish can float along with the stream; it takes a live one to swim against it.’’

• The crowd is not always right. The voice of the mob is powerful. Think about how Pilate’s decision making about the fate of Jesus was swayed by the masses. A lot of people can carry the day. But they are not necessarily correct in all they decide. The crowd can be extremely frightening, terribly noisy and overwhelmingly persuasive. But might and right are not always (often?) in agreement.
• ‘’One with God is a majority.’’ This passage introduces us to a number of people who were prepared to move against the tide: Jeremiah, Hezekiah, Micah of Moresheth, Uriah, Ahikam, and all the people who spoke up for Jeremiah. In an age that was marked by ungodliness, not everyone was content to be driftwood in the stream. There were people of backbone and conviction.
• Going against the tide, however, is costly and demands courage. Uriah died for his principled stand. Jeremiah would have but for the intervention of Ahikam (24). Warren Wiersbe says that the safest place in which to live is in the centre of God’s will, for there we are ready to live or die. The gallery of faith (Hebrews 11) is filled with people whose earthly fates were diverse. Some were delivered by faith; others were tortured, imprisoned and died by faith (see also Acts 12). But they were all committed to doing the will of God, and lived in submission to Him, just as Jeremiah did (14). That was the outstanding feature of their lives.

It is wisdom to know which battles to fight, and which ones to let go. But so often key victories are made in the small choices we make from day to day. We need to know where to draw the line and on which issues to take a stand. May God give us the wisdom to know and the courage to do.

Prayer: Lord God, free me from cowardice. Make my heart brave. Help me to be willing to stand alone if faithfulness to you requires it.

 Jeremiah 26:7-15: Blessing & bleeding.

‘’When Jeremiah had finished his sermon, saying everything God had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and people all grabbed him, yelling, ‘’Death! You’re going to die for this! How dare you preach – and using GOD’s name! – saying that this Temple will become a heap of rubble like Shiloh and this city will be wiped out without a soul left in it!’’ All the people mobbed Jeremiah right in the Temple itself.’’ The Message.

‘’How prone human nature is to resist the Word! The leaders should have called for a time of fasting and prayer, but instead they called for the execution of God’s prophet!’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.515

Here, following on from yesterday’s thought, is a further insight about true preaching. It is costly. It involves death that there might be life in it. In particular, it entails death to pride, egoism, the desire for popularity and the love of ease and comfort. Someone made the point that there can be ‘’no blessing without bleeding’’. Authentic Christian ministry is cruciform in shape. It walks the way of Jesus: the way of the cross, leading to resurrection. For some preachers/leaders reading this today it may be ‘Friday’ but you can be sure that ‘Sunday’ is coming. Historically, Good Friday and Easter Sunday belong together; the cross and the empty tomb are also united in Christian ministry and experience.

Warren Wiersbe explains why Jeremiah was treated this way. He was handled like a false prophet: ‘’To them, it was blasphemous for Jeremiah to declare that Jehovah would allow the Holy City and His holy temple to fall into the defiling and destructive hands of the heathen the way the ark at Shiloh fell into the hands of the Philistines (1 Sam.4). Since God’s covenant with David protected the city and the temple, Jeremiah was actually denying the covenant! He was leading the people astray and deserved to die (Deut. 18:20).’’ The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (OT), p.1241.

If you are a preacher, at times you will be called upon to say things that some people don’t want to hear. It is vital to always remember that the cross lies at the heart of all true ministry. Death and life go together; life flows out from us when we die.

In response to all of this unfairness thrown at him, Jeremiah exhibited a Christ-like meekness, and I think there are faint echoes of Jesus in (14, 15; see 1 Peter 2:21-33).

Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your wondrous cross, and for how it offers perspective when we are treated unfairly.

 Jeremiah 26:1-6: True preaching(please click here for todays passage)

The events recorded in this chapter took place ‘’Early’’ in Jehoiakim’s reign. So the irrevocable judgment we have read about in the previous chapter had not yet been announced. There was still time to repent, as is evident from the wording. Verses 2-6 are a summary of the temple sermon recorded in (7:1-20). The point of this present chapter is to recount what happened after Jeremiah gave the message. In these words we see some important things about true preaching. (There is such a thing as false preaching):

• True preachers are under God’s authority. Like Jeremiah we are to preach what we are told, where we are told, and to whom we are told: ‘’Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you…’’ There is a strong emphasis on the communication of God’s Word. This was not Jeremiah’s word, but the word of the Lord in the mouth of the prophet (see 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15; also 1:7). Note also the references to listening and hearing (3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 12). ‘’The false prophets preached what the people wanted to hear, but Jeremiah preached what the people needed to hear.’’ Warren W. Wiersbe: ‘The Wiersbe Bible Commentary (OT), p.1241.
• True preaching will not always be easy for the preacher. Preachers know that when there is a ‘hard’ word to deliver it is emotionally difficult. There is something wrong somewhere if we relish the task. A true preacher will not take the ministry of admonition lightly.
• True preaching will not always be popular. We may find ourselves saying ‘Fire, Fire’ to people who want to ignore the first whiffs of smoke – who want to remove the battery from the alarm; who want to believe that all will be well for everyone, and even the devil will be saved in the end.
• True preaching does not compromise any part of God’s truth: ‘’do not hold back a word.’’ (ESV); ‘’do not omit a word.’’ (NIV). It is balanced preaching; it is prepared to articulate a message of judgment. The gospel is ‘’bad news before it is good news’’, and true preaching faces no loss of nerve when it comes to delivering the more unpalatable elements.
• True preaching aims at repentance. It desires to bring people’s lives into line with God’s Word and keep them in line. We are always in need of change and true preaching targets such transformation. True preaching shows people how ‘sick’ they are and urges them to find Christ who is the only ‘Remedy’ for our naturally incurable ailment.

Prayer: Lord God, bless the preaching of your Word, and raise up an army of true preachers.