We have come to the end of another great study.  2 Timothy has been a treasure trove of truth, encouragement, and great exhortation.  Through Paul’s heart for Timothy, we have seen more of God’s heart for us.  His desire is for us to be all that He created us to be, to flourish and thrive, and to finish our races well.  So before we leave this study for good, let’s look back on all that we’ve learned over the past ten weeks and pull out some lasting truths we can carry with us.

​As we’ve mentioned before, the core theme of 2 Timothy is to be faithful.  Be faithful to run your race, complete your assignment, finish your mission, and do it all well.  The idea is not to merely make it across the finish line or squeeze in your completed task before the deadline, but rather, to finish strong and with excellence, to go above and beyond the minimum requirements.
 
Remember when we examined what it meant to “fulfill your ministry” in chapter four and how Paul states that his life was being poured out as a drink offering?  We are called to leave it all on the field, give following Jesus everything we have, and hold nothing back but completely pour ourselves out in pursuit of Him and build His kingdom on earth.
 
But in a practical sense, how do we accomplish this?  How can we stay on mission and not get weary in the running?  What can help us press on so that we don’t give up before the finish line?
 
In 2 Timothy, Paul gives us two general points for how we can stay on mission and finish our race well.
 
1. Guard and steward well what you’ve been given.  In chapter one, Paul encourages us to fan into flame the gift God has given us and to guard the good deposit that God has entrusted to us.  He also exhorts us to continue in the truth we have learned to be ready to share that truth with others.  As we do these things, we will keep our passion for the Lord alive and remember the why behind our faith and the reason for running this race.
 
2. Live according to a higher standard.   We can keep running our race well by keeping our eyes fixed on our calling and living in congruence with that calling.  Throughout this letter, Paul outlines standards of living and calls Timothy to walk worthy of his calling.  2 Timothy 2 talks about how as soldiers of Jesus we are not to get entangled with the affairs of this world, but remember whose mission we’re on.  This chapter also contains the exhortation to flee the passions of the flesh and pursue God.  Paul also commands us to be approved workmen who rightly divide or handle the Word of truth, to be prepared to preach and defend the truth at all times, and to understand that suffering for the truth is not to be avoided but rather expected. 
 
These are the two general, overarching themes from 2 Timothy as Paul encouraged his son in the faith—and by extension us—to run well the race of faith to the end.  Therefore, as we close out this series, let us remember these two main points so that we can faithfully run our race, pressing on to the finish line and completing our mission with excellence with our eyes fixed on Jesus.  Press on!

​What are some take-aways you’ve gleaned from this study?  How has God used 2 Timothy to speak to your heart and encourage you in the faith?

​At the end of 2 Timothy, Paul gives his usual list of people who work alongside him and send greetings. However, the flavor of these closing remarks is slightly different as evidenced by the very last part where Paul shares that all of the brothers actually deserted him when he was brought before the emperor and that even now only Luke was with him. This would have been a difficult season of Paul’s life, but in the midst of it he has joy and peace.  Even though he knows that death is fast approaching, he has a very unique perspective on God’s faithfulness and goodness to him during this trial and gives God glory for rescuing him from danger.  So as we face the end of what has been a difficult year for many, let’s learn from Paul and see what he has to teach us.

​The first lesson Paul teaches us is that no matter what your friends may do, God never leaves you.  Notice the strong verbiage Paul used, “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me.”  Paul didn’t just experience warm fuzzy feelings.  In the midst of his trial and feeling abandoned by earthly friends, he felt God’s presence within, standing by him and strengthening him. 
 
That’s what God wants to do in all of our lives!  However, we must be familiar with His presence in order to recognize it.  We need to have a relationship with our Creator in order to experience divine strengthening.  Do you have that kind of relationship with God?  In difficult times, can you say with confidence that the Lord stood by you and strengthened you?
 
The second truth we find in this passage is that God’s purposes are never thwarted.  Paul’s one mission in life was to preach the gospel.  It was God’s specific assignment to Paul and above all else Paul wanted to be faithful in that.  So because God was with him and strengthened him, Paul was able to fulfill his life’s calling even in the most challenging situations.  He was able to preach the gospel before the emperor so that all present might hear the good news of Jesus.
 
Therefore, we can trust God when our lives seem to take a sudden detour.  His plans and purposes are never thwarted by circumstances.  God is never taken off guard or surprised by events.  But He will give us all that we need and the opportunities to fulfill the special missions He has entrusted to us no matter what season of life we’re in.  We just need to trust Him, be bold when the opportunities arise, and walk forward in faith.
 
Thirdly, God doesn’t always rescue us from difficult circumstances, but He will always save us from the real enemy.  Notice what Paul says next: “So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”  This seems like an odd declaration since Paul literally wrote this letter while on death row in Rome.  So how was he rescued from the lion’s mouth if he was waiting his turn to die?
 
I always thought that Paul was referring to a literal lion in this passage.  But after studying this verse in context, I realized that Paul was not referring to a lion in the literal sense but figuratively.  In the New Testament, Satan is likened to a lion.  Peter says that he’s a prowling lion looking to devour unsuspecting, naïve people (1 Peter 5).  Therefore, in the context of 2 Timothy, Paul is referring to Satan as the lion he was rescued from.
 
But why would Paul say that he was rescued from the lion’s mouth?  Well, remember what Paul’s mission was:  preach the gospel in season and out of season.  Also, look at the sentence structure in the previous verse.  Paul says, “But the Lord…so that.”  Because God stood by him and strengthened him, Paul was able to fulfill his mission.  If God had not given him the courage and strength, Paul would have failed.  And if Paul would have failed his calling, Satan would have gained a victory.  Therefore, Paul says that God rescued him from the lion’s mouth referring to the fact that God saved him from bowing and conforming to Satan’s designs and attempts to stop the gospel.
 
However, Paul was still facing death.  He wasn’t safe from physical harm, but rather knew that God protected him spiritually.  So while God might not always rescue us from the physical elements of our trials and circumstances, He will always give us what we need to fight against our spiritual enemy.  Just as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane that God would not take us out of this world, but rather protect us from the evil one (John 17). 
 
Therefore, you might be in the middle of a fiery trial, a fierce storm, or devastating tragedy that God has not rescued you from.  But you can rest and confidently be assured that God will save you from the evil designs and intentions of Satan if you will accept and trust His strengthening presence and divine sovereignty.
 
Finally, Paul teaches us that we have a divine Escort who will lead and guide us safely into eternity.  We just need to follow Him.  Throughout his life, Paul saw God faithfully lead and direct him as he traversed the Roman Empire, stood before kings and rulers, and eventually gave his life for the sake of the gospel.  God does not promise us an easy life, but He does promise to walk with us through all the challenges.  We may face suffering, death, loss, and heartbreak, but God will safely guide and lead us into eternity.  We just need to trust Him, walking in faith and following His leading. 
 
The Apostle Paul was divinely escorted through the streets of Rome, before Emperor Nero, and eventually to his death.  However, through it all, God was right there with him, leading, guiding, and bringing him safely home into the heavenly, eternal kingdom.  And the same God who was with Paul lives with us. 
 
Therefore, as we face uncertain days and an unknown future, let us rest and trust our known God.  He was faithful then when the world seemed hopelessly dark, and He’ll be faithful now.  So let’s join Paul’s statement of faith and say with utter confidence that no matter what happens today, tomorrow, next month, or next year:

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
~2 Timothy 4:18

​As we’ve mentioned throughout this study, Paul was at the end of his life.  He had poured out his life as a drink offering to the Lord, holding nothing back but giving all that he had.  Now, as he neared his final days and looked back over his life, he summarized it in a powerful way.  He didn’t list his accomplishments, note how many churches he planted, remark on how many miracles he performed, or boast about the number of followers he had.  Rather, at the end of his life, Paul’s claim to fame was simply that he had finished his race and kept the faith.

​This is a powerful statement and a noteworthy life accomplishment.  Paul—the great Apostle to the Gentiles, missionary, planter of churches, and writer of over half of the New Testament—had one final boast in life:  he finished his race and kept the faith.
 
Would that be our final boast?  When we stand at the end of our time on earth, will we be able to say with confidence and pride that we have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith?
 
This should be our goal in life.  The ministries we’re involved in, work we do, people we interact with, and children we raise are important, but our ultimate goal in life should be finishing our race well.  If we keep this goal in front of us, our priorities will fall into proper alignment.  We will love people as Jesus did, serve others sacrificially, and love our families unconditionally, all because our goal is to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
 
This declaration of Paul’s is the central theme of 2 Timothy.  While it may not seem like this book has been focused on running a race, this concept of remaining faithful till the end was Paul’s whole purpose in writing this letter.  He wanted to encourage Timothy to keep his eyes fixed on the end goal and keep his faith above all.
 
The Greek word for kept that Paul used in 2 Timothy 4:7 literally means “to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon).”  This definition gives us a completely different understanding of what Paul stated.  Paul didn’t just keep the faith; he guarded it from loss or injury.  It was not a passive action, but fully active.  It required diligence, hard work, and constant alertness. 
 
Likewise, we are called to keep or guard our faith from the attacks of the enemy.  Satan would like nothing better than to successfully undermine and destroy our faith, and he will use a variety of methods and subterfuge to accomplish his mission.  Therefore, we must be on guard and actively watch over our faith, keeping the fire of our passion for God burning and our hope in Jesus always the center of our focus.  If we do so, we can join Paul in declaring with triumph and confidence that we will receive the inheritance that God has promised to those who love and follow Him.     
 
On the other hand, if we lose sight of our goal and purpose in life and do not carefully guard or keep the faith, we will get distracted by the temptations and allures the world has to offer.  Paul gave Timothy and us a solemn example and warning about this when he shared the fate of Demas, a once passionate and devoted follower of Christ who got consumed by the affairs and pleasures of this world.

​This is a tragic end to Demas’s life story.  In other parts of the New Testament, Paul gives glowing reports about this fellow laborer in the work of the ministry.  However, as Paul closes out his ministry and reflects on those who have worked alongside him, he shares this depressing update about Demas.  This is the danger of becoming too entangled and concerned about the cares and concerns of this world.  We may lose sight of our eternal purpose and perspective and end up falling in love with the world and deserting the work of God.
 
So how do you want your life story to read?  Do you want to share Paul’s declaration of victory and testimony of a life lived in faithful, unreserved service to God?  Or do you want to be known as the girl or guy who was once passionate for the Lord, but then got caught up in the world and walked away from the truth?
 
I think we’d all like to follow in Paul’s footsteps.  Therefore, finish your race well!  Guard and protect from loss and injury your faith in God and devotion to Him.  And don’t lose sight of the wonderful hope and reward God has in store for all those who love and long for His appearing and presence.

​As Paul closes his letter to young Timothy, he not only gives him a powerful exhortation but also reminds his son in the faith that his days are numbered.  Paul knew his life was drawing to a close, but he did not fear the end.  Rather, he rejoiced in the fact that he finished his life’s race well and was being poured out as a pleasing offering to God.  Paul uses the term “being poured out as a drink offering.”  What does that mean and is it something all Christians are called to be?

​In order to fully understand this Old Testament reference to the Israelite sacrifices, we must go back to what Moses taught the Israelites about the sacrifices God wanted.  In Numbers 28:7 we learn that unlike some of the other offerings, the drink offering was all for God.  While some of the others offerings were withheld and given to the priests, no part of the drink offering was held back for the Levites.  All was poured out before the Lord as a fragrant aroma and sacrifice.
 
So what was Paul saying when he mentioned being poured out as a drink offering?  He was referring to the fact that he held nothing back from serving God.  All was given; all was sacrificed.  He willingly poured out his whole life as an offering to God. 
 
Likewise, we are called to offer all of ourselves to God.  We must not hold back.  Just as the drink offering was fully poured out before the Lord, so also we are called to live a life that is wholly poured at in service to the King, holding nothing back but trusting God to give us what we need to sustain ourselves. 
 
Often, we hold back in fear.  We are afraid that if we give everything, we’ll have nothing left to sustain ourselves or we might burn ourselves out.  However, holding back is a form of doubt and reveals lack of faith.  If we truly believe that God will supply all we have need of, then our lives should reflect it.  And we will find that the more we surrender and pour our lives out to the Lord as an offering, the more we will experience His all-sufficient power and grace.   
 
Paul lived his life in full surrender.  And when he came to the end of his life, he could confidently say that his life was poured out as a precious drink offering to God.  Will we be able to say the same when our time on earth draws to a close?
 
Is your life reflecting a drink offering to God?  In what areas are you holding back in?  How can you live a life more poured out in sacrifice to the Lord?
 
This is a challenging message and one that might make you uncomfortable.  However, living fully surrendered to God is vital to experiencing the abundant life Jesus died to give us.  Therefore, may we all resolve to follow in the footsteps of Paul and give our lives as a precious drink offering to the Lord, daily living a poured out life.

​The core theme of 2 Timothy is centered on living life on mission and with a God-given purpose.  2 Timothy 1 talked about fanning into flame the gifts God gives and guarding them with all diligence, while chapter two encouraged us to live as soldiers of God who are on mission and to abstain from the entanglements of civilian life.  Chapter three warned us of those who might distract and deceive us by their godly appearances but lack spiritual depth.  Now here in chapter four, Paul delivers one final exhortation to young Timothy.  This is his final spiritual charge to his son in the faith, and it is full of important instructions for anyone wanting to live a God-honoring life.

​In this one verse, Paul gives four powerful charges that are worth dissecting and examining one at a time.  So let’s unpack this important exhortation given by God through the Apostle Paul.
 
Sober-Minded
 
Paul first commands Timothy to be sober-minded.  This Greek word literally means “to abstain from wine” but can also mean “to watch.”  The idea here is not a legalistic command to never drink wine, but rather, an exhortation to guard your mind from intoxicating substances that would cause you to lose your reasoning ability and good sense.  While wine was the common substance for intoxication in the first century, our modern era offers many things that can intoxicate one’s mind.  Drugs and other substances that cause one to lose one’s mental faculties would definitely apply, but I would also include other forms of addiction such as fame seeking, eating disorders, pornography, gambling, and any other item or experience one uses to attain a mental high.
 
All these things rob us of common sense and sound judgment as we blindly seek to fuel and fund these consuming addictions.  And while you may argue that they are not addictions in your life, be careful because they still have power to steal your ability to watch and be sober in mind and decisions.  God calls us to always be sober-minded, in our right mind, or watchful.  Therefore, we must guard against anything that might threaten our minds and seek to take it captive.
 
Endure Suffering
 
This command is pretty straight forward.  Remember what Paul wrote in 2 Timothy
3?  “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).  Therefore, we should not be surprised by suffering, but rather, patiently endure it since it is a sign that we truly are living godly lives.
 
Be an Evangelist
 
The literal translation from the Greek for this phrase is “preach the gospel.”  Paul didn’t want Timothy to lose sight of his main goal:  proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.  While many people will not listen to the truth, there will always be some who are ready to hear the gospel.  Therefore, Paul didn’t want Timothy to give up or neglect preaching and telling others about the hope that he had.
 
Fulfill Your Ministry
 
This final exhortation is arguably the most powerful of the four.  There was a reason why Paul put it last.  It’s one of those words that you will want to meditate and ponder, asking God how it will play out in your own life.  Paul’s exhortation to “fulfill your ministry” might sound familiar to those who have followed my blog for some time.  He gave this command to a guy named Archippus in his letter to the Colossians and now writes the same thing to Timothy.  While “fulfill your ministry” might sound like a pretty straight forward command, there is a much deeper meaning here than what the English translation conveys.  Therefore, we’re going to dive into the Greek and see what God is truly trying to tell us in this simple exhortation.
 
The word fulfill literally means “to carry out fully, entirely accomplish, make full proof of.”  Another way of translating this Greek word would be complete, carry to completion, or finish well.  This word does not mean barely make it to the end.  Rather, it denotes a sense of a job well done, going above and beyond, and never giving up no matter the situation.
 
The word ministry may sound official and only applicable to those working in a church or nonprofit.  However, in the Greek, this word means “attendance as a servant.”  That gives us a completely different picture of what Paul is referring to!  Ministry is not a church program, small group gathering, or counseling session.  Rather, ministry is all acts of service to God.  Your ministry may be raising five kids, mowing an elderly neighbor’s yard, honoring and obeying your parents, sharing a smile with the grocery store clerk, or taking care of any number of mundane tasks as if working for the Lord. 
 
In our church culture, we’ve overemphasized organized ministry and made service to the Lord confined to certain tasks and activities.  However, the truth is that all that we do, if done for God, is ministry.  If our motive is to do all things as for the Lord, then every mundane, seemingly ordinary task becomes part of our “attendance as a servant” and thus ministry.  So reframe your perspective on how God defines ministry and always remember that the smallest acts done for God are seen by Him.
 
So to sum this all up, Paul exhorts Timothy and us to carry to completion, finish well, and entirely accomplish our attendance as a servant to God.  That’s a powerful word, and one we all should ponder and prayerfully ask God to show us how we can improve.  Are we joyfully working as unto the Lord and faithfully carrying out our daily, mundane tasks as faithful servants?  Will we arrive before God’s throne and hear the words “Well done, good and faithful servant”?  Would those around us say that we are honestly fulfilling this command?
 
When we shift our perspective and realign it with God’s, life takes on new meaning and purpose.  No longer do we view small, seemingly invisible tasks of ordinary life as unimportant.  Rather, everything you do can be an act of ministry depending on your attitude in it.  So whatever you’re about to do today, this week, this month, this year, or in this life, remember that ministry is simply “attendance as a servant.”  Therefore, we all have been given a ministry that we must carry to completion, entirely accomplish, and successfully fulfill to God’s glory.
 
So complete your God-given assignment as you run your race of faith!

​We all enjoy listening to positive messages or speakers who motivate us and make us feel better about life.  We also enjoy surrounding ourselves with friends who share similar ideas and encourage us.  This is natural and a positive thing; however, we must be careful that we do not exclusively listen to people and messages that make us feel good.  God’s Word and truth should bring conviction to our hearts at times, and that conviction is not always easy to listen to.  But it is necessary for our spiritual health and wellness. 

Therefore, be careful who you listen to.  For Paul warns us that a time is coming, in truth I would argue that it has already arrived, when people will only listen to those who speak words that tickle their ears and by doing so, leave the path of truth. Let’s see what Paul has to say about these people and how we can keep from joining their number.

​The first step down this slippery path is rejecting sound teaching.  Remember, God’s Word is living and active, able to cut through and pierce our hearts (Hebrews 4:12), so it would follow that there will be messages and truths from the Bible that are not comfortable to hear.  In fact, they might be painful, awkward, convicting, and cause great sorrow.  But is that a bad thing?  No!  God’s Word is meant to bring about transformation in our lives, show us sin and help us walk in truth, conforming us more and more into the image of Jesus.  Therefore, we should not reject sound teaching that may bring conviction to our lives at times, but rather embrace it.
 
But that raises another point:  how can we know what is sound teaching if we are not studying the Bible for ourselves?  One of the reasons why people reject biblical, truth-filled teaching is because they do not recognize it as such.  They have not personally familiarized and grounded themselves in truth, so they cannot distinguish truth from falsehood.  Therefore, they are prone to disregard or discredit legitimate teaching based on God’s Word.  As the idiom states, they proverbially throw the baby out with the bath water because they cannot recognize and identify truth.  Therefore, in order to keep ourselves from rejecting sound teaching, we must dig into the Bible for ourselves and know the truth so we can recognize the Words of God from the words of men.
 
The second step off the path of truth is exclusively listening to things that make one feel good.  Notice what Paul writes about these people.  They surround themselves with teachers that will satisfy their own desires.  Or as the NIV eloquently puts it, “Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3b).  This is a dangerous practice and one we see happening on a daily basis in our culture.  How many people only listen to what they want to hear?  How many individuals gather around themselves “teachers” who will only teach them things they already know and agree with?    
 
Can you see how this practice would lead one off the straight and narrow path?  Contrary to what our culture promotes, truth is not a personal construct that we can shape and define based on what makes us feel good, sounds right, or tickles our ears.  Rather, truth is absolute.  It is timeless and not based on human opinion or the whims of culture but on what God ordained and established when He created the world.  Therefore, we cannot know truth if we only listen to people who satisfy our own desires.  We must look beyond ourselves and seek truth in the incorruptible Word of God.
 
So in closing, are you a pleasuring seeking learner?  Do you only listen to people who say what you want to hear?  Are you able to recognize and identify sound teaching from fluffy rhetoric? 
 
Paul warned Timothy about these wayward people so that Timothy could be aware of the challenges he would face as a minister and preacher of truth.  But this warning can also be used to keep us from joining the ranks of these people who have left the path of righteousness.  Therefore, may we take heed and be careful to always keep our eyes fixed on truth, no matter the cost, and avoid the voices of flattery and affirmation that cater to our sinful, selfish nature.  So be very careful who you listen to, because who you surround yourself with and listen to will shape who you become.

As we round the corner and head down the homestretch in our 2 Timothy study, we find a series of short, power-packed exhortations.  It’s almost like Paul started running out of parchment but still had a lot he wanted to say.  So he condensed and delivered his instructions in rapid fire sequence.  However, even though these exhortations may be very short in word count, they hold much weight in personal application and practice.  Therefore, we are going to take our time going through these final charges God gives us through Paul’s letter to Timothy.  And as we do, may we have open and receptive hearts to receive these instructions and put them into daily practice.

2 Timothy 4 opens with a statement by which Paul declares whose authority he is writing and giving out exhortations under:  Jesus Christ.  In the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, Paul tells Timothy that the following exhortations are to be treated as a divine charge.  While we know that the entire letter has been divinely inspired and ought to be treated as the Word of God, Paul wanted Timothy to pay special attention to these final instructions.  Therefore, we also should listen up and see what the wise, mature Apostle felt was God’s marching orders for the next generation.

Preach the Word 
Paul’s first command is “preach the word.”  The Greek word for preach literally means “to herald (as a public crier), proclaim, publish” (Strong’s Dictionary).  This definition denotes the fact that while preaching does include verbal sharing, it can also include other modes of communication.  The synonym of “publish” reminds me of the power of the written word.  So in short, when Paul says “preach the word,” he means to proclaim, declare, and speak of God’s Word.
 
The commands in the Bible are for everyone; therefore, this exhortation to “preach the word” applies to you!  Preaching is not just relegated to pastors; we are all called to preach.  Therefore, you can do this from a pulpit, living room couch, driver’s seat as you shuttle or carpool kids, or grocery store by giving someone a word of encouragement from Scripture.  This declaration of God’s truth can also be done through song as we worship and through the written word as we communicate with people on an individual level (emails, text messages) or publicly (blogging, article writing).  There are many different ways we can fulfill this mandate to preach, proclaim, and herald the good news of God.
 
However, also note the second half of this command.  “Preach the word, in season and out of season.” Paul wants us to always be ready to preach God’s Word.  In season and out of season conveys preparedness, alertness, and readiness to be called upon at a moment’s notice.  You never know when someone might need to hear a word from God; therefore, always be ready to share God’s Word, in season and out of season.
 
Be Patient and Teach 
Paul’s second instruction for Timothy regards how to deal with people.  As a pastor leader in the church, Timothy was dealing with a lot of different people, some were easy and others were difficult.  However, despite the challenges of working with other sinful, human beings, Paul exhorts Timothy to always be patient and never give up teaching.    
 
The context of this command is correction.  Paul tells Timothy to exercise patience and teaching when reproving, rebuking, and exhorting.  So this verse isn’t really speaking to the nice, perfect Christians, but those who need correction, rebuking, and to be shown the correct path.  These are the people Paul tells Timothy to specifically use complete patience and teaching with.  However, these qualities are also important when working with anyone and everyone, in a correction setting or not.
 
Therefore, the servant of God must be patient.  Frustration, unbridled anger, and irritation have no place in the life of the believer because they do not reflect God’s nature.  God is loving, gracious, merciful, patient, and kind.  Therefore, as followers of Christ and citizens of heaven, we ought to reflect these qualities.  So may we note and heed God’s command through Paul to always be patient.
 
The servant of God must also teach.  We must not tear down, but always build up.  Even those who need correction should always be approached with the attitude of a teacher.  An attitude that is firm and unshakable with truth, but gentle and loving in spirit, seeking to show sinners the error of their ways.  This will demonstrate the grace and love of God and also make the words you share more palatable and receivable by others.
 
In conclusion, Paul’s two commands are this:  preach the word and be patient with teaching.  How are you doing on these fronts?  Are you prepared to proclaim the truth of the gospel at a moment’s notice?  If someone asked you what you believe and why, would you be able to articulately answer?  How patient are you?  Do you get easily frustrated when trying to correct or point out the error of someone else?  Are you gentle with others, having the attitude of a loving teacher as you work with people?
 
These are areas we always can improve in.  Patience does not come naturally, but takes work to obtain and maintain.  Therefore, may we resolve to be more patient and loving people.  May we seek to always teach with the goal of building others up and not just tearing down.  And may we prepare ourselves so that we can preach the Word of God in season and out of season, always ready to give a reason for the hope that we have so that God may be glorified and others may know the truth.

Imposters.  Evildoers.  People wearing the appearance of godliness, but denying the very power of God.  These are all signs of the end days during which darkness and evil prevails.  While Paul wrote about this over two thousand years ago, we are seeing the type of people he described in our world.  However, in the face of such moral decline and wickedness among humanity, what should we as Christians be doing?  How do we respond and live in the midst of these types of people?

​Paul gives us a powerful exhortation on this point.  However, he starts in an unusual manner.  Before giving Timothy, and consequently us, instructions on how to handle and respond when working with difficult people, he reminds Timothy that every Christian is guaranteed suffering.  No one is exempt.  In fact, Paul writes:

​Not the most encouraging message!  Paul basically says that everyone who seeks to live uprightly will be punished while those who flagrantly do evil and sin will prosper.  That’s probably not what you want to hear!  However, Jesus also told us to expect persecution and basically promised this reality to us when He said, “In this world you will have persecution.”  However, Jesus also gave us hope, because immediately after promising us persecution in this world He said, “but take heart for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 
 
What assurance!  So here in 2 Timothy, Paul is echoing what Jesus taught and giving Timothy and us a reality check and a reminder of facts that in this fallen world those who seek to live godly lives will be persecuted.  However, Paul doesn’t end the conversation there.  He goes on to give young Timothy instructions on how to live and navigate these difficulties.  Paul writes:

​In the midst of persecution and trials, we can equip ourselves to continue in godliness and pursuing good by holding fast to truth.  Paul exhorted Timothy to continue in what he learned about God and came to believe, to not forget the truths and revelations he had received about God, and to immerse himself in God’s Word.  Likewise, we also can and should heed Paul’s counsel. 
 
Why is it so important to be thoroughly versed in truth?  Because as Paul powerfully stated, the Bible is God’s very words and hold immeasurable power to teach, correct, train, guide, and equip us for every good work.  God’s Word is what changes and transforms our minds and subsequently our lives so we can live as the approved workmen and clean vessels we are called to be.
 
Therefore, as you face persecution, ridicule, or people who oppose you for your faith, remember Paul’s message here in 2 Timothy 3 and hold fast to truth.  It is the only way we will remain anchored in our faith and firmly rooted in what we believe.  It is also the only way we will know how to respond to those who make our lives difficult and continue in faithful service to our King. 
 
So immerse yourself in the living Word of God!  Be intimately familiar with God’s promises and truths, standing firm in your faith and unmoved from the hope you profess.  In difficult, evil days such as these, hold fast to truth!

​The world is a dark place.  Our moral culture is sliding and people are getting closer and closer to doing whatever is right in their own eyes.  In America, we’ve seen a dramatic shift in cultural norms as families have broken apart, moral standards have loosened, and disunity has riddled our nation.  However, none of this has taken God by surprise!   In fact, He warns us through the Apostle Paul that difficult days are coming during which time sin would run rampant in people’s hearts.  Here’s what Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:1-5:

​This is a pretty sobering description. Look at all those negative adjectives!  And sadly, we are seeing these traits lived out in full color within our culture.  How many teens and young people are disobedient to their parents?  How many career seekers and workaholics tirelessly toil after the love of money?  Abuse is high, and callousness towards violence and evil is tragically prevalent. 
 
If you look closely, you’ll find all of these dismal qualities present in our culture today.  While all of these characteristics are sad and depressing, there is one attribute that I believe is outright dangerous to the Christian.  It’s dangerous because of its subtle camouflage and ability to go undetected by naïve believers; however, these kinds of people hold the power to derail, distract, and disqualify followers of Christ from finishing their race.  This treacherous element is people who have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power.
 
Of all the types of people listed, this is by far the scariest.  These people deceive themselves and deceive others.  They have an outward appearance of godliness, but are actually dead inside.  Like the Pharisees in the gospel, these people are hypocrites and possess a dangerous appearance of spirituality, but not a heart softened and transformed by the truth.
 
In the Greek, the term “appearance of godliness” literally means “form of devotion, knowledge of the gospel, or piety.”  Therefore, these deceivers look like devoted followers of Christ on the outside.  They attend church regularly, say the right things, use Christian vernacular, tithe, volunteer, give to the poor, and attend Bible study. 
 
However, they deny the power of God living within them.  Their minds and hearts are not open to allowing God to have full control of their lives and unleashing His transforming power inside of them.  The literal Greek meaning for the phrase “deny its power” is “contradict the force or miraculous power.”
 
Interestingly, the Greek word for power Paul uses here is dynamis, the word from which we derive our English word dynamite.  It means force or miraculous power that in and of itself is a miracle.  So the people Paul is talking about in 2 Timothy deny or contradict the divine, miracle working power of God.  They’re willing to maintain the outward trappings of religion and go through the motions of Christianity, but don’t want anything to do with the power of the Holy Spirit that comes with His indwelling. 
 
They would rather stay safe than experience divine power.  They prefer keeping rules to experiencing the power of a regenerated life.  They want predictable but not life-transforming change.  They want to keep God in a neat and tidy box and not give Him full access to their heart.  These people possess a dangerous appearance of Christianity, because one cannot truly follow Christ and deny the power of God at the same time.  It is impossible!  To follow Christ means to fully embrace His life-changing, miraculous power and allow it to change you from the inside out. 
 
Therefore, Paul warns Timothy to avoid such people.  This is a warning we should also heed, because these types of people can weaken our faith and cause us to become complacent in our walk with God.  Instead of spurring us on, they might encourage us to compromise.  Instead of exhorting us to know God more, they might tell us that we’re doing pretty good and don’t really need to be more spiritual. 
 
Avoid such people!  And learn from this passage that often the most dangerous people to our faith are not the most obviously evil individuals.  Rather, we must be most wary of those with the outward appearance of godliness, but a heart that rejects and denies the very power and presence of God.  So watch out for these people and be careful not to join their ranks!

​Approved workmen.  Clean vessels of honor.  These are positions and descriptions that we ought to strive for.  However, what practical steps can we take to attain them?  In his letter to Timothy, Paul gives us some answers to this question.  He writes:

This is one of those often quoted verses from 2 Timothy.  You might have heard it many times or even read it for yourself often.  However, let’s take a moment to really break down what God wants to teach us through this exhortation.
 
“Flee youthful passions and pursue…”
 
This is a powerful reminder for all believers, young and old.  While you might read the word youthful and think that it only applies to young people, the truth of the matter is that this word is referring to immature desires that have nothing to do with numerical age.  Furthermore, the Greek word for passions literally means “a longing, especially for the forbidden.”  Therefore, while youthful passions are more common among younger people, we can all succumb to youthful passions at any age or season of life.  Therefore, may we always keep in mind this important reminder to flee from them and pursue God.
 
The word flee denotes aggressive action.  It is not a passive verb but conveys a sense of urgency and immediacy.  When you flee from danger, you run as hard and as fast as you can.  When the slaves fled from slavery in the South, they did so with intentionality, single-minded focus, and one goal:  freedom.  They didn’t look back nor did they linger, waiting to see if freedom was really something they wanted.  They ran and tried to get to the North as fast as they could.
 
Likewise, we are called to flee, run away, intentionally turn away from, and single-mindedly choose to abstain from youthful passions.  We must not linger and play with the idea of these temptations, but must flee.  Run hard and fast away from the things we know will weigh us down and hinder us in our Christian walk. 
 
But we are not called to just run away from bad things.  God exhorts us to also run towards Him.  “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.”  These are attributes of God and fruits of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, in our flight from the sin that can enslave us, we are to run towards the nature of God.  We must pursue Him and the things He value. 
 
But what does this look like practically?  What real life situations can we apply this exhortation to?
 
I believe Paul gives an extremely timely example.  One of the longings and passions of youth is to always be right in an argument.  We see this in the two-year-old arguing with his mom in the grocery store or we witness it in the teenager who gives a sassy, attitude laden reply to his dad.  However, remember that youthful passions and desires are not restricted to individuals young in age.  Men and women of all ages and seasons of life display this unattractive desire to always be right in an argument.  This is especially true in the times we are living in.
 
In our polarized culture, are we going to be known for our opinions and stance on controversies or by our love?  Paul exhorted Timothy that God’s people must not be quarrelsome.  That’s a strong word.  It’s not “should not be,” rather he says “must not be.”  I am reminded of the truth in James 1:20 which says “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  And foolish controversies definitely stir up anger and arguing!  Therefore, we must avoid them. 
 
The world will try to suck us into their squabbles and petty arguments, but we must hold ourselves to a higher standard.  We are called to be kind, patient in the face of evil, and gentle in correcting the false accusations of others.  Unity and peace is our goal—not division and strife—and in these times, it is an important reminder for us.  So remember, the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome or argumentative and causing strife!
 
So what steps are you going to take to flee the passions of youth and pursue God?  How can you strive to become the approved workman and clean vessel God desires? 
 
It can be challenging to walk uprightly and live the life God calls us to in our morally decaying culture.  However, we are reminded in 2 Peter 1:3 that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness.  Therefore, it is not impossible to become the men and women of God who live holy, set apart lives in the midst of a culture that is entangled in meaningless pursuits.  So remember the many exhortations found in 2 Timothy 2, and stay on mission for our King, becoming approved workmen and vessels of honor by fleeing youthful passions and pursuing the nature of God.  For God’s glory and His renown!