4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, 2 Timothy 4
Paul speaks to Timothy and us by the Spirit to remind us that someday we will stand before Christ and hear His Judgement of our lives here on earth. It’s easy to get so caught up in the material things of this world that we forget about spiritual reality.
I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Paul told his protégée to faithfully preach God’s Word (16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3) and to be ready to instruct at all times. (Timothy had to always be ready to tell people about the Lord – always on duty, no goofing off!)
‘Correct, rebuke and encourage’, get the RIGHT BALANCE in what he said, people need to be encouraged as well as corrected. He also needed to have the RIGHT ATTITUDE, ‘being patient’ with believers and giving them good counsel.
For the TIME is coming when men will not tolerate wholesome teaching. They will want something to tickle their own fancies, and they will collect teachers who will pander to their own desires. They will no longer listen to the truth, BUT WILL WANDER OFF AFTER MAN-MADE FICTIONS. PHILLIPS
You’re going to find that there will be TIMES when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and CHASE MIRAGES. 2 Timothy 4:3,4 MSG
There are Times or Ages when people have been so deceived and so captivated by this world that they’re unwilling to listen to Truth, even believers. They actively pursue fantasies and mirages, they’re obsessed with things other than the Truth. Paul tells Timothy that this is going to happen, so don’t be annoyed and discouraged when it does.
For yourself, STAND FAST in all that you are doing, meeting whatever suffering this may involve. Go on steadily preaching the Gospel and CARRY OUT TO THE FULL, THE COMMISSION GOD GAVE YOU. PHILLIPS
But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; ACCEPT THE HARD TIMES ALONG WITH THE GOOD; ‘KEEP THE MESSAGE ALIVE’; (Really like this phrase) do a thorough job as God’s servant. 2 Timothy 4:5 MSG
Timothy, there are times when you’re going to have to ‘go against the flow’, but don’t get upset, just keep going and being to your calling. All of us will experience hard times, but God is faithful, we should never give up.
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6