Good evening. Obituaries are often very poignant, as they are the last word on someone’s life. These are rarely negative and almost a hundred percent positive and affirming, as they are communicating what the deceased person meant to us.

(0:21 – 0:37)

We actually chatted about this in our community group a couple of weeks ago, when David Wilie challenged those of us in our community group to say nice things to people now. Rather than waiting until it’s their funeral. Last words are important.

(0:38 – 1:03)

Even more so when it’s the last words of the person themselves before they die. In Acts chapter 7, Stephen’s last words, as he was stoned to death, were Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he fell on his knees and cried out, Lord, do not hold this sin against them.

(1:05 – 1:45)

In 1944, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an anti-Nazi theologian, who was hanged four days before the prisoner of war camp that he was held in was to be liberated, said these famous words, This is the end for me, the beginning of life. In 2020, when Christian author and pastor Tim Keller died at the age of 72 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he said two days before his death to his family, I can’t wait to see Jesus. Send me home.

(1:46 – 2:15)

I think you will agree that these are inspiring words from Stephen, Bonhoeffer, and Keller, men who had a clear sight of their eternal destination. So why do I start with this tonight? Well, over the last three months, we’ve been looking at 2 Timothy together. In 2 Timothy, we have the last recorded words of the apostle Paul, the apostle who wrote a significant part of our Bibles.

(2:16 – 2:43)

He is the fifth largest contributor of the Bible. Paul wrote 13 letters to the early churches, if you put the next slide up, please, Alison. Paul wrote 13 letters to the early churches, to church leaders, and it probably gives us the most insight of how churches should work and what doctrine churches should be following.

(2:46 – 3:02)

In 1 Timothy, Paul writes to Timothy to stay in Ephesus. Colin highlighted that Timothy was struggling up the hill of church ministry in chapter 1 of 2 Timothy, when Colin introduced this topic to us. He’s struggling up the hill.

(3:03 – 3:34)

You might remember it was Colin struggling up the hill of the park run and just needing that wee bit of a hand. Then Colin was highlighting, that’s Timothy, struggling up the hill of church ministry in danger of leaving completely, and this is why Paul writes to Timothy. Paul is shouting, don’t stop, keep going, and we will see this tonight as he urges Timothy to come to Rome to encourage Paul himself, but also so that Paul can strengthen Timothy.

(3:35 – 3:59)

These are Paul’s last words, and as such we should sit up and take notice. As we have studied 2 Timothy together, I wonder if you’ve noticed a desertion theme coming through. Chapter 1 verse 15 says this, you know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me.

(4:00 – 4:17)

And as we’ll see tonight, chapter 4 verse 10 says, for Demas, because he loved the world, has deserted me. So we have desertion at either end of this book. Andy Gemmell from Cornhill describes the letter as a rescue package.

(4:17 – 4:33)

We have seen that as we’ve gone through our series. Chapter 1, Timothy, fan the flame. Timothy, guard the deposit.

Chapter 2, Timothy, be a good soldier. Don’t be like the athlete who cheats. Timothy, be like the hard-working farmer.

(4:33 – 4:47)

Chapter 3, Timothy, keep the knowledge of truth. Timothy, continue in the Word. And as we saw last week, Timothy, preach the Word and be prepared in season and out of season.

(4:48 – 5:26)

Paul is seeking to look out for and look after his man in the field. This is like saving Private Ryan, only with eternal consequences, not pulling out the last son as the rest have died, as we saw in that film, so a mother is left with no sons, but pulling out the gospel worker to strengthen them for further ministry and expansion of the kingdom after Paul himself has died. This is frontline gospel strategy and battling right here in these pages.

(5:27 – 5:53)

Why do I give such a long introduction? Well, for two reasons. As we draw this series to a close, it’s important to pick up on all the threads that have been running through this letter, but also the NIV’s title of personal remarks and final instructions is so uninspiring. And I can say that because titles are not the inspired Word of God, but they’re mere headers and summaries of what’s coming.

(5:54 – 6:14)

Now, to see clearly how verses 9 and 22 fit in part of the wider section, it is important we read the whole chapter tonight. So we’ll start at verse 1. And I say it’s important because at the end of verse 1, Paul says to Timothy, I give you this charge. And in verse 18, he says, Amen.

(6:14 – 6:42)

So it’s one massive section altogether. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, in the view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge. Preach the word and be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction, for the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.

(6:42 – 6:55)

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. They will turn their ears away from truth and turn aside to myths. But you keep your head.

(6:56 – 7:10)

In all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time of my departure is near. I have fought the good fight.

(7:10 – 7:21)

I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day.

(7:22 – 7:38)

And not only me, but to all those who have longed for his appearing. Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.

(7:38 – 7:49)

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

(7:49 – 8:03)

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander, the metal worker, did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.

(8:03 – 8:16)

You too should be on your guard against him because he is strongly opposed to our message. At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against him.

(8:16 – 8:37)

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to this heavenly kingdom.

(8:37 – 8:48)

To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.

(8:49 – 9:05)

Erastus stayed in Corinth and I left Trophimus ill in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you and so do Pudens, Linus and Claudia and the other brothers and sisters.

(9:06 – 9:13)

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all. Amen.

(9:13 – 9:26)

And this is the word of the Lord. In the time that we have remaining, I would like to look at four brief points. Exit gate, equipped ministry, evangelistic courage and eternal perspective.

(9:27 – 9:36)

So firstly, Paul is standing at the exit gate. So I’m going back a couple of verses here. Or he’s sitting in the departure lounge of his life.

(9:37 – 9:57)

Paul is imprisoned in Rome and he understands that although he’s been released from prison before, it’s unlikely it’s going to happen this time and he’s anticipating his execution. This is like getting a terminal cancer diagnosis. Something that focusses the mind.

(9:58 – 10:14)

We probably all know someone who’s been taken from us in an instant when no one really expected it. However, equally, we probably all know someone who knew that their end was near. And they were standing at the exit gate of life here on this mortal earth.

(10:15 – 10:32)

I spoke to my cousin’s husband last night and he was describing his neighbour who had had a terminal cancer diagnosis. And he was sitting in his garden and he was saying, I can’t believe that these flowers will be here next year and I won’t. That sharpens the mind.

(10:34 – 10:41)

Paul is at this exit gate. Paul knows that he has fought the good fight. He has finished the race.

(10:41 – 10:48)

He has kept the faith. There is no murkiness for Paul. Absolute clarity.

(10:49 – 11:02)

His journey of faith that started when the ascended Jesus appeared to him in a bright light on a road to Damascus. This journey has been tough. Disciples not exactly trusting him at first.

(11:02 – 11:21)

Dangerous missionary journeys, church planting, preaching, disagreements, imprisonment, riots, arrest, shipwreck. But Paul has persevered in the faith and Paul has been bold with the gospel. I’ve run a marathon.

(11:21 – 11:29)

I’ve run a number of marathons. I’ve even run the West Highland Way Race. The last miles are always the hardest.

(11:30 – 11:40)

I remember in the West Highland Way Race having to go downhill backwards. Such was the pain in my shins. Here is Paul in his last few miles.

(11:41 – 11:49)

Imprisoned in Rome. These are tough last miles for Paul. But he has real clarity about his future.

(11:50 – 12:51)

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award me on that day. How are you doing in your fight? How are you doing in your race? Are you a ministry worker? Flagging on the hill that Colin described to Timothy in chapter one? Are you struggling to hold on to your faith when the world seems to have so much more to offer? Are you tired and weary? Tempted by the comfort of a so-called better life? Hopefully we can all be encouraged by and inspired by Paul’s last words this evening. In the last few recorded words, even in this moment with death looming on the horizon, we see Paul still demonstrating his love for people.

(12:53 – 13:13)

Friends, co-workers, and laser focused on the gospel and the expansion of God’s kingdom. So to our biggest point tonight, equipped ministry. It was really team ministry, but I needed another E so you get an equipped ministry tonight.

(13:14 – 13:26)

But there is no I in team. A quote from Helen Keller who’s not related to Tim Keller. She was a blind and deaf political activist, activist and author in the early 20th century.

(13:26 – 13:45)

So the 1900s, blind and deaf. And she says, alone we can do so little and together we can do so much. Ecclesiastes chapter four, verse 12 says, a cord with three strands is not quickly broken.

(13:46 – 14:11)

The Bible’s wisdom literature highlighting that plurality is better than being alone. Throughout this section, Paul is talking about people, people he works with as he knows the power of team ministry compared to solo working. We’re gonna whiz through this, so keep your Bibles open and look at all these names as we go.

(14:12 – 14:22)

Second Timothy chapter four, verse nine, do your best to come to me quickly. This request is multi-layered. Paul is alone, deserted and facing death.

(14:22 – 14:41)

Timothy is a trusted fellow worker who will encourage Paul. But more than this, Timothy is struggling on that ministry hill and Paul knows that he might give up. So this letter is a rescue mission for the almost completely washed up and rinsed out mission worker.

(14:42 – 15:14)

Come quickly, feel the urgency both to encourage Paul and to protect Timothy. But what about the work in Ephesus? Is Paul going to abandon the church in Ephesus in order to rescue his man in the field? No, verse 12, I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. It is most likely that he takes this letter to Timothy and was sent to replace Timothy in Ephesus.

(15:14 – 15:36)

Tychicus is a key part of the rescue mission as it was his job to carry on the work in Ephesus, freeing up Timothy to go to Rome. Come quickly, real urgency as this is a matter of life and death. Yes, Paul is facing death and might not even be around for the length of time it takes for Timothy to get to him.

(15:37 – 15:59)

Hence he talks to him about come before winter. But also, Timothy is in danger of giving up which would have potentially eternal consequences just like Demas, the deserter. Verse 10, for Demas, because he loved this world has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.

(16:00 – 16:16)

Demas is mentioned twice previously in our Bibles. Paul and Timothy co-wrote the letter to the church in Colossae. They finished saying in Colossians 4, verse 14, our dear friend Luke, the doctor and Demas send greetings.

(16:17 – 16:46)

And Paul and Timothy also wrote to Philemon who lived in Colossae at a similar time. And they finished their letter in verse 24, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. So Demas is clearly a fellow worker with the great apostle Paul, but deserted Paul in his time of greatest need because he loved the world.

(16:47 – 17:08)

Jesus himself taught that no one can serve two masters. Either you’ll hate one and love the other, or you’ll be devoted to one and despise the other, Matthew 6, verse 24. So when using the word for Demas, loved the world, I believe that Paul is highlighting that Demas has not only deserted Paul, but he’s deserted Jesus too.

(17:09 – 18:02)

As, if he loved the world, he must hate Jesus. If it was anything less, I think Paul would have said, straight after this, Paul mentions Crescens and has gone to Galatia and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. What is not clear is have they deserted like Demas or have they been sent like Tychicus? Although immediately following Demas, but because it doesn’t mention desertion in the same way, I think we have to err on the side of Crescens and Titus having been sent or at least choosing to support and serve churches in Galatia, which is Turkey, and Dalmatia, which is Croatia, at this time of first century church expansion and Christianity going across the world.

(18:03 – 18:15)

Continue to read on. Another person, only Luke is with me. This is Dr. Luke, the author of Luke’s gospel, personal doctor, friend, and coworker to Paul.

(18:15 – 18:39)

We’ve already seen Luke mentioned in Colossians and Philemon by Paul and Timothy. Luke is very much a close friend of Paul’s, one of his inner circle, trusted, helpful, sharing Paul’s burden for taking the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul tells Timothy, another person, get Mark and bring him with you.

(18:41 – 18:59)

Now, this is a great picture, folks, of ministry reconciliation. As only a few years ago, Barnabas and Paul had had a disagreement over Mark. Acts chapter 15, verse 27, Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them.

(19:00 – 19:25)

But Paul did not think it was wise to take him because he had deserted them when in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. On Paul’s first mission in Acts chapter 13, verse 13, we have this small detail from Paphos. Paul and his companions set sail for Perga in Pamphylia, where John, that is Mark, left them to return to Jerusalem.

(19:26 – 19:36)

Mark had clearly been an issue for Paul. His commitment had been called into question and Paul was not happy to have him as part of his team. Trust was broken.

(19:36 – 19:58)

Acts chapter 15, verse 39 continues, they had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark, who was his cousin, and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left. Commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord, he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

(19:59 – 20:16)

And here we have, just a few years later, Paul saying to Timothy, bring who? Bring Mark. Mark, who is mentioned in Colossians and Philemon, alongside Demas and Luke. So by this point, they clearly must have been reconciled.

(20:17 – 20:34)

And this is perhaps why the church in Colossae needed extra instructions. Having heard about Paul not taking Mark to Syria, the church in Colossae might have been minded to, well, we’ll just leave Mark on the side. Paul does not get on with him.

(20:35 – 20:51)

Hence, Colossians chapter four, verse 10, it says, my fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you this greeting, as does Mark, cousin of Barnabas. You have received instructions about him. If he comes to you, welcome him.

(20:52 – 21:02)

That’s in brackets. It’s like Paul saying, by the way, Mark’s a good guy, look after him. So Paul is reconciled to Mark, but he’s needing to convince the church too.

(21:03 – 21:20)

Paul says to Timothy, get Mark and bring him with you because he is helpful to me in my ministry. Now that’s not helpful to him in his prison cell, not bringing him food and water. That’s helpful to him in his gospel ministry.

(21:22 – 21:49)

Paul knows the value of Mark. Paul, writer of 13 New Testament letters, Timothy, his coworker and friend, Luke, personal doctor, coworker, friend, author of Luke’s gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Mark, reconciled coworker, helpful in gospel ministry, author of Mark’s gospel.

(21:49 – 22:08)

This is the first century church equivalent of the Avengers Assemble. Paul is getting the band back together. Paul is assembling a team in Rome, the very heart of the Roman, indeed, the Gentile world.

(22:08 – 22:32)

And it is really important not to underestimate what is going on in these verses that are mentioned as personal remarks. This is big stuff happening here. Can you imagine these four heavyweights of the early church, four sumo wrestlers for the gospel? Just imagine their conversations.

(22:32 – 23:17)

Sometimes you can watch online, Gospel Coalition, you see some of the big theologians having a conversation and it’s great to watch. Can you imagine being in this room and seeing these guys? The encouragement it would have been to Paul in prison facing death and Timothy and Luke and Mark come alongside. But also, can you imagine the strategising of how they’re going to take the gospel to more cities and more countries, building up more churches, making Jesus fully known to the world, the Gentile world, the Roman Empire, God at work, building His kingdom using Roman roads for the expansion.

(23:19 – 23:57)

And what an encouragement to us too. Perhaps we’ve let someone down in ministry previously, but Paul and Mark’s reconciliation should encourage us that God can reconcile and that God can still use us, even if we’ve let someone down. I’ve already mentioned that Tychicus was most likely taking this letter to Timothy and he was his relief in Ephesus so that Timothy can get a break and can be rescued in this frontline ministry.

(23:58 – 24:18)

But note here that Paul also says to Timothy, bring my cloak. I love these small details, bring my cloak, as clearly his Roman cell was not a comfortable experience and with winter coming, the warm coat would have been practically beneficial. He also asked for his scrolls and his parchments.

(24:19 – 24:37)

Now again, we don’t know exactly what these were. Christopher Green in his commentary refers to it as Timothy, Paul is asking for his library and his study. And I thought that’s probably the best way of describing it.

(24:38 – 25:08)

We can reasonably speculate that Paul is familiar with scriptures and the scrolls probably include Old Testament scriptures, his library. We know that Paul is a keen letter writer to the churches that he’s visited and needed his study brought to so that he could continue in his writing. What is wonderful to take is despite knowing that Paul in his own words, I have finished the race.

(25:09 – 25:24)

Paul is still keen to read and to write. Probably keen too, to pass on to his avengers important scrolls and parchments too. Perhaps Luke’s, Luke and Mark’s gospels were discussed, we don’t know.

(25:26 – 25:34)

But there’s every chance that it was. Perhaps Paul was encouraging him to write these gospels. The reality is we don’t know.

(25:36 – 25:55)

But there were certainly opportunities for these discussions and encouragements. And Paul is showing a commitment to reading and studying even in these last days, bring me my scrolls, bring me my parchments. So whether building the team, getting the library and study brought to him, even bringing his cloak, this was all about equipped ministry.

(25:55 – 26:09)

All about team ministry. And it doesn’t finish the team ministry at that point in verse 13. Paul goes on to warn Timothy about Alexander the metal worker who has done him a great deal of harm, who is strongly opposed to their message.

(26:10 – 26:22)

Paul is pulling out Timothy out of the heat in order to recover, recharge and rebuild. And Paul is giving Timothy warnings about those who are opposed to their work. Be on your guard.

(26:23 – 26:41)

Forewarned is forearmed. Paul has fought the good fight and he wants Timothy to be strong enough to do the same. Have you had people in your life who have done this for you? Have you been able to do this for others? Being that support when you have most needed it.

(26:42 – 26:56)

Provided warnings against threats or even disciplined when against unwholesome practises. The provision of regular meals when going through cancer treatment. Someone phoning you once a week to chat and to pray.

(26:57 – 27:21)

Providing direct financial support when needed. Taking the pastor out for coffee. Not to unload on all your personal problems, but to say, how are you doing Colin? How can I as a church member help you and serve God? Even into the final greetings we see Paul’s pastoral heart.

(27:22 – 27:44)

Names and more names. Was Paul someone who never had others round to his house? Never popped round to see his friends and co-workers? No, Paul is a moving towards you kind of a person. Who are we moving towards? Who are we looking to support and help? Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned just at verse 19.

(27:44 – 28:16)

In Acts 18, we learn that they are a Jewish Christian married couple who travelled with Paul to Ephesus, where they were able to teach and mentor Apollos. They held a church or a community group in their house. They risked their lives for Paul in Romans chapter 16, verse 3. Are you an older couple in this church helping out others? Last week, we had Jeremy Rose, the lead pastor from Axis Church, Nashville, and he highlighted that Ray and Jannie Ortlin put him up for nine months when he arrived in Nashville to plant a church.

(28:17 – 28:43)

Are you a Priscilla and Aquila? Are you helping others? The household of Onesiphorus, indicating that Onesiphorus himself might be dead. But Paul still spends time with that family. Are you involved in someone’s life enough that you can regularly visit even after someone has passed away? You maintain that connection.

(28:45 – 29:05)

It’s important to do. Erastus and Trophimus are two Christians who may have journeyed with part of the way with Paul to Rome. Further names, Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

(29:06 – 30:03)

The importance of team ministry to the main pastor. Are you a backbench MP for Colin? Are you willing to help out whenever required, encouraging through works and being united in the gospel? Yes, there are a lot of names in this section, but I hope that you can see the importance of not being a solo worker for Christ, but to be connected with your brothers and sisters here at Greenview, attending your community groups, encouraging one another, serving alongside one another, coming to things like warm spaces, having the opportunity to go shoulder to shoulder with others who are seeking to share the gospel from our church. I have two further points, but both of them you’ll be glad to hear are a good bit shorter.

(30:04 – 30:14)

Evangelistic courage, verses 16 and 17. At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.

(30:14 – 30:37)

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. Here was Paul at the heart of the Gentile world, the centre of the Roman empire, potentially in front of the Roman emperor himself, and all have deserted his side.

(30:39 – 30:49)

He has no character witnesses willing to speak up for him. He is alone in the dock. Does he speak up for Jesus? Does he proclaim the gospel? Yes.

(30:50 – 31:03)

Paul has big evangelistic courage. He’s not going to miss this opportunity, even if it means his death sentence. Many martyrs have been faced with this conundrum over the centuries.

(31:03 – 31:16)

Stand up for Jesus and proclaim the gospel and face death. Yes. Where do I sign up? It would be amazing if we had a record of what Paul actually said.

(31:19 – 31:52)

But having said it, he was able to proclaim that he’d fought the good fight, that he’d finished the race and that he’d taken the gospel to the centre of the Roman empire, to the heart of the Gentile world, just as Jesus called him. So we know that he will have shared the gospel. Acts chapter 21, verse 37 into chapter 22 gives us a really good insight as to what Paul may have said in the court in Rome at his first defence.

(31:53 – 32:16)

Here in Acts, Paul silences the crowd and from the steps of the army barracks in chains, he addresses the crowd with his testimony, how he was just as zealous for God as anyone in the crowd. He was persecuting Christians when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, how he lost his sight and how Ananias had healed him, how he was called to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. What a powerful testimony.

(32:17 – 32:30)

In Acts 22, the crowd cause a riot. So who knows what the Roman court and the Roman emperor would have thought to what Paul was sharing. But Paul didn’t miss the opportunity.

(32:31 – 33:01)

Let me ask you, are you praying for opportunities to share your faith? Are you moving towards others so that you’re in position to ask them to the next three to one course? One of my colleagues said, no on this occasion, but I pray that I will get further opportunities, perhaps one to one with him. None of us are likely to lose our life standing up for Jesus here in the UK. However, as we know it does happen from America to Africa.

(33:02 – 33:28)

Faced with that decision, what would your choice be? Stand up for the gospel or desert the gospel because we love the world too much. The reality is, that our lives are rarely at stake, but the eternal destiny of our friends, colleagues, neighbours depends on our evangelistic courage. And finally, we are to be bold because we have an eternal perspective.

(33:30 – 33:54)

Using verses 16 and 17 into verse 18, where it says, the Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom to him be glory forever. Amen. Paul in verses 16 and 17 felt that Jesus was standing beside him, whether physically like Daniel in the fiery furnace or like Jesus with Paul in the barracks.

(33:54 – 34:11)

Acts 23 verse 11. When the Lord stood near Paul and said, take courage or as a Christian with the Holy Spirit in his heart, as we all have. Paul was able to boldly claim the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength.

(34:11 – 34:46)

Many of us who have had moments in our lives where we know we only achieved what we have achieved because we have Jesus in our lives. Like the footballers who score a goal and the crowd go wild and they indicate not me, God. Or the eternal perspective of whether scoring a goal or to die in a prisoner of war camp like Bonhoeffer when his last recorded words were, this is the end for me, the beginning of life.

(34:48 – 35:11)

So when living life, do it with an eternal perspective. Eilidh my wife was chatting to me this week about uncertainty over her job and having that assurance in Christ, not that she will keep her job, but that God is in control. An eternal perspective.

(35:13 – 35:43)

Or nearing the end of life, keep your eyes fixed firmly on Jesus and keep the eternal perspective, not the end, but the beginning of life. Paul had this eternal perspective. We remind ourselves of this eternal perspective every week as we come to communion and as we think about the cross, but also as we look to the future when Christ in heaven, when we will be with Christ in heaven or when Christ will return.

(35:45 – 36:06)

And so to the last word, the Lord be with your spirit, grace be with you all. Paul is speaking to Timothy, the Lord be with your spirit is singular, the your is singular. This letter is for Timothy who Paul is seeking to rescue and help.

(36:07 – 36:18)

He’s exhorting the Lord to strengthen Timothy through the Holy Spirit. The Lord be with you, Timothy. And to those ministry leaders in our churches, this should be an encouragement to you as well.

(36:21 – 37:07)

Acts chapter 20 verse 24, Paul says to the elders at Ephesus, I consider my life nothing to me. My only aim is to finish the race, complete the task that the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying the good news of God’s grace. With Paul’s last written words, remind the church reading this letter, remind us 2000 years later reading this letter about the gracious gift from God, unchanging love, forgiveness and undeserved favour, which was Paul’s only aim to share.

(37:08 – 37:24)

Grace be with you all. Let’s take time to sing through number 99 from our books. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within.

The post The Last Word – 2 Timothy 4v9–22 appeared first on Greenview Church.