Sermon Tone Analysis

*2 Timothy 4:9-22*

Many times the very end of personal letters like 2 Timothy get ignored or glossed over because of their personal nature.

I know that my bad habit is to come to a section like this, with lots of names and personal instructions, and skim quickly to look for “important stuff.”

However, if we study the end of 2 Timothy and give this passage its due as a part of God’s Word we will find that Paul is right; all Scripture is indeed “inspired and profitable.”

(3:16)  These last verses of 2 Timothy teach us the comfort of a soldier in Christ, or put another way they teach us what every soldier needs to enjoy their ministry and their work for Christ.

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In the church we run the risk of missing this great lesson when we ignore the impact these last verses can have on our lives.

We might be tempted to think that if we are good enough soldiers we will ensure ourselves a satisfying journey.

From experience, though, I can tell you that even the best and most disciplined soldier gets tired of soldiering.

It takes more than just individual dedication to our task to have a joyful spirit as we serve the Lord.

At the very end of Paul’s last letter, he leaves us with three needs every soldier must have met to enjoy serving the Lord and waiting for His return.

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1.                  *Help in Ministry (4:9-15)*:  John Donne said it well: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”[1]

We see that thought here in the life of the Apostle Paul.

Paul is sitting in a dungeon: cold, alone and more than a little disheartened.

He reminds us that in order to be successful in ministry and have joy in being soldiers in Christ’s army /we need help in ministry/.

We can’t make it on our own; we need the help and love and support of others to see us through life’s struggles and trials.

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/9Make every effort to come to me soon; 10for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

11Only Luke is with me.

Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.

12But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

13When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

14Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

15Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching./

(2 Timothy 4:9-15) \\ \\

There are several interesting bits of information right at the outset here as we begin our look at the needs of a soldier in Christ, and specifically for the comfort that help in ministry brings.

Paul begins by telling Timothy to “make every effort” using the same word in the same way that he did in 2 Tim 2:15.

In other words, just as Timothy was supposed to do everything in his power to provide a “straight path” for the Word of Truth in people’s lives[2], so Paul wanted him to do everything he could to make it to Rome as soon as possible.

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Why did Paul want Timothy in Rome so quickly?

Simply, because he needed help!

Demas, Paul tells us, had “deserted” him; he “loved this present world” and so he left Paul’s side to travel to Thessalonica.

Demas is mentioned in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24, and in both of those instances he is mentioned alongside of Luke as Paul’s “fellow worker.”

He was a part of Paul’s inner circle, which no doubt made his defection all the more painful.

I don’t think that Demas abandoned Christ[3], but he did leave Paul in his time of need.

That defection must have wounded Paul deeply and grieved him greatly.

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We also get the picture in these verses of others who are no longer helping Paul in Rome: Crescens and Titus have apparently been sent to other locations to do the work of spreading the kingdom of God, and only Luke is left.

Tychicus is probably mentioned because he brought the letter from Paul to Timothy in Ephesus[4], which means that Paul decided to go without one of his close companions in order to gain the help and companionship of Timothy.

What had begun as an Army for Christ descending upon Rome had dwindled to a battalion; then after awhile it was only a company; now Paul didn’t even have enough helpers to man a fire team![5] \\ \\

I also notice that Paul wants Timothy to bring Mark along.

In Acts 15:36-40 Paul and Mark had more than a disagreement; Paul felt that Mark deserted him and would not allow him to come on his missionary journey!

Apparently they had made up by now, and Mark had proven himself to be faithful to the point that Paul specifically asks Timothy to bring him along to help with the ministry in Rome.

What a change of heart!

Even the biggest rift can be healed for the cause of Christ if we all maintain humble and forgiving attitudes.

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In verses 13-15 Paul asks Timothy to bring him some supplies, namely a cloak and his books, especially his parchments.

The cloak would keep the cold at bay in the Roman winter, but I can’t say exactly what books these were.

I can make any number of guesses[6], but without any further information I think the best course of action is to simply understand that Paul needed Timothy to bring him some supplies and not try to speculate too precisely what they were.

While he was at it Timothy was to continue to be watchful of the opposition to Paul and his work that men like Alexander the coppersmith could muster.

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Paul needs supporters, and he needs supplies.

He needs some faithful helpers to stand with him and fill in the gaps of working for the kingdom of God.

Here at his very end of life Paul’s first and only concern is that the gospel of Jesus Christ carries on and is presented to people who desperately need it.

He was perhaps the greatest genius in history, certainly one of the most tireless and devoted followers of Christ that has ever walked the face of the earth, and from his prison cell he cries out to Timothy for help.

Paul knew he wasn’t an island.

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Are we modeling the same type of ministry here at the WG?  \\ \\

* Are you practicing the same commitment for Christ in your own life?

When the call comes out to help, that a ministry or a person in our congregation needs fellow workers or supplies or assistance or encouragement, what is your response?

* Do you begin to think about the possibility of helping and coming alongside to encourage your brother or sister in Christ, or have you succumbed to the “not my job” mentality that is so prevalent in America?

A growing disciple of Jesus does everything they reasonably can when others ask for help.

That doesn’t mean that you have to become a doormat and take on 15 different ministries; instead, look for that area where we are lacking and see if you can help.

* When people struggle to find fellow workers, they get discouraged just like Paul did.

There are some people here who are wearing so many hats that they have to duck to get in the door.

Be like Paul: cry out for help!

Don’t get burned out and despondent; find someone who you think can help you succeed and ask them if they might prayerfully consider being a part of your ministry.

We might be tempted to feel like we are intruding on people, or maybe that we are not strong enough to hack it.

Don’t burn yourself out; ask for help.

* Are you instead shy to volunteer?

Maybe you’re not sure of how to help or where.

Maybe you’re busy and committed in other areas.

Be like Timothy: respond to the call!

When someone comes and asks for help they are turning to you and looking for support and encouragement and a helping hand.

Like Timothy with his great friend and mentor, do everything you can to lift that person up and help them succeed in sharing the love of Jesus with the people around them.

 

2.

*Strength from God (4:16-18)*: Paul cried out to Timothy for help and support, but especially in light of the situation with Demas Paul knew good and well that he couldn’t count on people to give him everything he needed to have a successful and joyous life.

If we lean all our weight on people for happiness and contentment, for support and strength, we will eventually be disappointed.

Thankfully, though, Paul’s trust was in Christ, knowing that the Lord will never let him down.

We need strength from God, just like Paul did. \\ \\

/16At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.

17But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.

18The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever.

Amen./ (2 Timothy 4:16-18) \\ \\

Boy, talk about a bad day!

The “first defense” that Paul was talking about is most likely what the Roman courts would have called the /prima actio/,[7] which was a preliminary hearing that allowed an accused criminal to present his defense as well as discuss his ideas.

Usually the person would have a legal advisor as well as someone trained in rhetoric to argue their case.[8]

Paul says that he had none of those advantages, because everyone ducked and ran.

Paul was no doubt feeling awfully alone and exposed; he wasn’t a skillful orator by his own admission, and no one stood up to provide counsel or defense for Paul.

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But was there really no one to stand with him?

Paul emphatically says that he was not alone!

The Lord stood by Paul and gave him strength.

This reference to “the Lord” is most likely a reference back to the same Person as verse 8, namely Jesus.

Paul’s ministry began when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, and here at the end of his life Jesus stood with Paul and gave him strength and the right words to make his defense and proclaim the message of Jesus Christ to the people gathered to hear his defense.

Paul was no orator, but Jesus gave him the strength and the courage to speak the truth, and because of it Paul says that he was given a reprieve in judgment.

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Look at Paul’s confidence in verse 18.

When he was all alone and afraid, Jesus came and stood with him.

When Paul felt abandoned and deserted, he found the Lord Jesus Christ carrying him.

When he thought he would trip all over himself, Jesus whispered the words in his ear to proclaim to the gathered crowd.

What does that do for Paul?

It gives him confidence!

He watched God at work, and because Jesus stood by him Paul knew that he would stand by him every step of the way to walk him to the gates of heaven.

Paul knew well that eventually Rome was going to execute him, but he knew just as well that Jesus would take him on that day and deliver him into His everlasting kingdom.

And for that confidence Paul sings God’s praise!

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Every worker in Christ needs to see the presence of God in their ministry.

They need to know that Christ is standing with them, and that they are doing His will.

I don’t think that Jesus materialized in bodily form at Paul’s side, or that Paul heard any audible voices in his head.

My guess is that Paul simply spoke in his own defense, and then later realized that his words were not his own and that Christ had been with him.