PREACH THE WORD--II TIMOTHY 4:1-4

PREACH THE WORD

II TIMOTHY 4:1-4

Introduction:

The Apostle Paul said that “… the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18. Today more than ever that is true.

We will not stop preaching until Jesus comes for man needs the truth. He needs salvation in Jesus Christ because He is the ONLY SAVIOR. That is why Paul admonished Timothy to continue (be instant) to spread the Gospel of the grace of God. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 40:9, ”I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.”

I. PREACH GOOD TIDINGS

Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2- To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3- To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

A. He hath sent me…

1. To bind up the brokenhearted, Isaiah 57:15, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

2. To proclaim liberty to the captives, Isaiah 42:7, “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

3. To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD [the year of Jubilee], v. 2; 2 Corinthians 6:2, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

4. To comfort all that mourn,

a. To give unto them beauty for ashes.

1) The ashes of persecution, Esther 4:1-3, “When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.”

2) The beauty of salvation, Esther 8:15, “And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.”

b. The oil of joy for mourning, Psalm 45:7, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

c. The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, Isaiah 61:10, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

B. Warning every man, Colossians 1:27-28, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:”

1. To establish them in the faith, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:”

a. Unblameable in holiness, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

b. Confirming the souls of professed believers, Acts 14:22, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

2. That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 4:12-13, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

C. Continuing “instant in season, out of season,” standing by:

1. Preaching the Kingdom of God, Acts 16:30-31, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

2. Give thyself wholly to these things, 1 Timothy 4:15-16, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”

II. REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT

A. Exhorting every man, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”

1. Warning the unruly, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

2. That they may be sound in the faith, Titus 1:13, “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

B. Teaching doctrine, 2 Timothy 2:25, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”

1. Instructing (chastening) those that oppose themselves, Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

2. That those who are lost might be saved, 1 Timothy 2:4, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

C. Paul charged every one that they “would walk worthy of God,” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

1. To please God, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”

2. Worthy of your calling, Ephesians 4:1-2, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”

CONCLUSION

Preach the Word! That is what we need to be doing. Preach and teach the truth not only to believers, but also to those who are lost.