Key Text: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; PREACH THE WORD; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." II Timothy 4:1-2
On his way to Damascus, Paul suddenly found a bright light shining down on him... He fell to the ground and heard a voice from heaven. He answered the voice with the question, "...who art thou Lord...?" (Acts 9:5). Paul was brought to his knees by the Holy Spirit and called of God to be a chosen vessel unto the Lord to bear His name among the Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel. Through that experience, Saul became Paul and from that time forward to his death, Paul was a preacher of the gospel, a soldier of the cross.
This experience of Paul was a one time event. While Paul only went through the one experience found in Acts 9, God, through the centuries, has called men to preach. Personalities and cultures are not the same for we know that those called of God have come from many varied backgrounds and experiences.
Let us look at these four things found in Paul’s calling:
1. Paul was definitely called by God. "According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust." (I Timothy 1:11). Even though any rejected his message, he did not change his calling.
2. Paul was not only a preacher, he was also an apostle, one sent with a commission. He was called to preach the gospel and at the same time he represented the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Paul was a preacher (teacher) of the Gentiles. Working among the Gentiles as a full time pastor/evangelist was a new work.
4. Paul was confident in Christ and his work. He was never ashamed of what God called him to do-- preach the gospel in season and out of season.
What can we say about Paul? He was converted by God and called by God. He went forth and worked for God. He carried out his mission with courage and no compromise. At the end of his life, Paul stated while in prison, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith..." (II Timothy 4:7)
Last month, we gave Part I of this sermon on the general theme, "Called to Preach," and we saw how Jesus called His early disciples. Throughout the centuries, God has called men to preach who stand steadfastly on the solid foundation of His Word. We will discuss this in our sermon for this month.
We will consider these four points in more detail. First, let us see the duty of the person called. Secondly, let us see the demonstration expected of the person called. Thirdly, the deplorable attitude of the listeners. Fourthly, the dignity of a finished work.
I. Duty of The Person Called
"I charged thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (II Timothy 4:1-2) The duty is heavy and the calling is serious. That is what Paul is passing on to young Timothy. This calling to be a preacher of God’s Word is the greatest calling ever given to man. It is serious. It is solemn. The charge is to preach and the subject is the gospel: Christ who lived the perfect life, Christ crucified, Christ buried, and Christ resurrected.
"In these direct and forcible words is made plain the duty of the minister of Christ. He is to preach the Word, not the opinions and traditions of men, not pleasing fables or sensational stories, to move the fancy and excite the emotions. He is not to exalt himself, but as in the presence of God he is to stand before a dying world and preach the Word. There is to be no levity, no trifling, no fanciful interpretation; the minister must speak in sincerity and deep earnestness, as voice from God expounding the Sacred Scriptures. He is to bring to his hearers those things which most concern their present and eternal good." (Gospel Workers, E. G. White, p. 147).
With much prayer and preparation, the minister is to preach, but how is he to preach? Real Biblical Preaching will have many elements. The sermon must be preached with CONVICTION. Then the sermon must be preached with a clear WARNING and a Biblical sermon must have an APPEAL. We find these three elements in II Timothy 4:2, "...reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
Results may come slowly, but the preacher must keep preaching, remembering that God holds him responsible for the preaching of the gospel, not the saving of souls. We are also held accountable for feeding the sheep; therefore, we must keep on speaking and writing the gospel. Anything other than Biblical preaching of the gospel is just religious speech making. Friend, it is a sad commentary, but that is just about all that is being preached today. Stories are being told in pulpits all across America that have nothing in the world to do with the gospel. The tickling of people’s "itching ears" is the "in thing" and giving them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear is a crowd-drawing attraction used by many ministers to build a large attendance.
II. Demonstration Expected of the Person Called
"But watch thou in all things, endure affliction, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." Verse 5
Friend, the world is coming to an end; we are living in the last days. Soon the town and cities will be uninhabited. We must preach positive simple sermons with conviction. We must know that what we preach is the most important thing that mortal man can do. Waiting, watching, working, praying, warning the world – this is the work of the preacher and the church.
III. DEPLORABLE ATTITUDE OF THE LISTENERS
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." Verses 3-4. Let’s tighten the focus and look at some points that show the deplorable attitude of the listeners.
1. The time will come: What time period is Paul writing about? The last days! "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." II Timothy 3: 1-5.The attitude of these people is disapproval and rejection of sound Biblical truth. They are the religious crowd of Jesus’ earthly ministry. And sad to say the religious world has the same kind of people today.
2. The teachers will come: "¼but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" verse 3 Here then lies the great need for sound Biblical truth. More than traditions, suppositions, stories and fables are needed. Forms and ceremonies should not be the order of the day. New Age false teachings with demon based ideas must be met with "thus saith the Lord." The gospel in the framework of Daniel and Revelation must be sounded forth in plain, humble words of earnest warning. 3. The turning away from truth will come. "and they shall turn away their ears from the truth." Verse 4. Friends, I say to you that the shaking of Christianity has already arrived. It is sad, shocking and startling to see how men and women, who at one time stood for sound Biblical preaching and separation from liberal teachers and worldly living, have now wandered into the way of worldly society.The social gospel has long ago omitted the true gospel. Salvation as it is found in the perfect, holy life of Jesus, the death of Jesus, the burial of Jesus and His glorious resurrection is unheard of in may pulpits today. The "in thing" is to accept any thing and put up with any thing as long as everyone feels good. Going to church today is some what like going to a social club where everyone is entertained. God help us in this Laodicean Age. May the Lord help us to keep His word and not deny His name. Revelation 3:7-8.
IV. DIGNITY OF A FINISHED WORK
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4: 6-7.
The Bible does not record the final days and weeks of Paul’s life, but we do know he died with dignity and in peace. What a great and tremendous way for a preacher to be laid to rest. John Wesley, the great Methodist preacher had a saying, "God buries His workmen, but His work goes on." Timothy and others stepped into the shoes of Paul. And, so it is in our generation. God has always had and will always have in the future, preachers who will continue to sound the battle cry, those who will stand for truth though the heavens fall.
In giving his life for the gospel let us consider what Paul experienced as follows:
1. He fought a good fight: He had gained victories. He could say, "
a. He was a regular jailbird for Jesus Christ.
b. He fought with beasts at Ephesus.
c. He was dragged out of the city of Lystra as dead.
d. He suffered shipwreck at sea.
e. He had been beaten with a rod.
f. He had been scourged.
g. He was bitten by a serpent. Yet, he could say, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God..." Ephesians 5:20.
2. Paul had present peace: Paul could look around and look back with peace of mind. He had lived his life to preach the gospel. He had confidence that he had done his best. He was now ready to give his life for the sake of the gospel and the Holy Name of Jesus. He had been a living sacrifice since his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. (See Acts 9). Then, he gave his life in death for the testimony of the gospel. Paul completed his work. He kept the faith.
3. Paul looked forward to future glorification: "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." II Timothy 4:8
Preachers in years past have been called. Preachers in our time are called. Will we be able to say with Paul, "I have kept the faith?" Will we have peace when it comes time for us to be laid to rest? Will we have confidence and not be ashamed when our Lord comes? Coming face to face with our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, will we hear these words of joy and comfort? Will we hear the words of approval? "His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25:21.
As a Biblical preacher called to preach, we are to continue on. When Jesus informed Peter that he was going to die as a martyr for his faith, Peter inquired about what would happen to John. Would it be fair if John and others did not die the same way? But Jesus explained to Peter that what would happen to John was not his business. That was God’s prerogative. Peter’s responsibility was simply to follow Christ, to be faithful in living the gospel and to be true to the his preaching. Isaac Watts wrote this song in 1709 and T. Williams set it to music in 1789:
The Song: "Go, Preach My Gospel"
"Go, preach My gospel," saith the Lord:
"Bid the whole world My Grace receive:
He shall be saved who trusts My word,
And they condemned who disbelieve.
THE END