I have too many keys on my ring to remember what they are all for! When I put each one on, I thought that I would recall the lock and be able to retrieve the proper key at any time. As the number grew and the complexity of my “lock life” grew, I found myself slowly overtaken by the sheer number to remember. In the end, I have a mass of useless metal and find myself frequently standing outside doors I have a key to, unable to figure out how to get in. Often someone comes along and lets me in, and I sheepishly say “thanks!” and walk in!
In the same way that life becomes complex and we lose track of the keys, we find our spiritual lives wound up in many agendas – and we thought we could keep it all straight. The simplicity and passion of our early walk in the Word, our relationships to people, and our Intimacy with God can easily get lost in the barrage of other “Christian agenda items” (like service, programs, property management, etc.)
I want to take us back to a simpler faith, stated as Paul closed his magnificent career as a writer of the Word given by the Spirit of God. His career as a writer spanned twenty to twenty five years. It grew in four stages: Prophetic, Polemic, Philosophical and Pastoral. By the end, Paul settled into the idea that ministry is not just about the future, not just about being correct, not just about understanding who you are in Christ and grasping great Heavenly truths – it is about friends and cloaks when you get cold.
Key Principle: God's best followers focus on the three eternal keys: people, the Word and intimacy with God.
I. Focus on People:
4:9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 12 But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching. 16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; (AW)to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. 21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren. 22 The Lord be with your spirit Grace be with you.
In these closing thoughts of Paul to Timothy, I see a list of people's names. A closer look at just these should yield two things: Paul's relationships and the value of the other people in the ministry to the Apostle. I am struck by how Paul – though he had great biographical portions of the Word – ended his writing with statements concerning others!
Paul opened with an “I need you – please come soon” (4:9) request. The beginning of a focus on people is a genuine recognition of our NEED for what others bring. We cannot really minister in the lives of others until we believe that we not only have truth to offer THEM in terms of a relationship with God, but we have things to LEARN from them, in terms of a real life connection.
From verse 10, I moved people into groups that I think reflect what Paul saw as the sun set on his ministry and he faced his own death. I believe the text offers nine types of people:
#1 Defectors: Quickly jumping off the page in 4:10 is Demas felt the connection to the world more deeply than the connection with me (4:10a). He was a former companion of Paul and left Paul – drawn away by the things of the world. Principle: We will invest time and energy in some who will slip away, attracted by other priorities. In Matthew 13 Jesus encountered the same thing! In the background there were people leaving the ministry, and pressure was coming on Jesus to “get the crowds back”. He offered a step parable, where each thought was built on the previous thought:
- The Sower on the Terrace (Mt. 13:3-9; 18-23): The problem with followers is not the seed, but the soil. The sower is true, the seed is good, but the soil must be right to get growth.
- The Wheat and the Tares (Mt. 13:24-30; 36-43): Some leave us because they were never truly with us.
- The Mustard Seed (Mt. 13:31-32): Some leave because they do not understand my priorities!
- The Leaven (Mt. 13:33): The Kingdom WILL have its effect – no need to worrry.
- The Treasure (Mt. 13:44) Some have left but they are making preparation to take it fully!
- The Pearl (Mt. 13:45-46) Some will be coming that have left all behind to grasp it!
- The Dragnet (Mt. 13:47-50) It is the nature of the Kigndom to grab all kinds – and LATER it will be sorted out who was the true follwer.
Not only will we have people that seem to be with us and then show themselves to be of another mind, but the fight for the hearts of men is a SPIRITUAL battle – and as such it will bring us into conflict.
Drop your eyes down to verse 14 for the second kind of person--
#2 Enemies: Alexander the Coppersmith set out to harm Paul (perhaps by testifying against him in addition to standing against Paul's teaching) – but Paul had to leave him to the Lord's judgment and warn Tim to keep an eye out for him (4:14-15). Paul had no illusions that enemies existed. He had gone out into a war, and he raised the eyes of the enemy and his minions. Paul had previously instructed the church in Ephesus 6:10-20 that there were battle armaments: belt of truthfulness, breast plate of right choices, sandal cleats of the identity in Christ, then as necessary – the blocking and locking shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the small dagger of the "rhema" Word. All were to be used with constant prayer and watchfulness. Paul was very conscious that he was at war.
Dale Carnegie wrote, "When we hate our enemies we give them power over us - power over our sleep, our appetites, our happiness. They would dance with joy if they knew how much they were worrying us. Our hate is not hurting them at all, but it is turning our days & our nights into hellish turmoil."
Principle: Some will attack us and try to destroy what we are building as we reach out for the Lord. We must be wise and keep our eyes open! Yet, we pass their names not as an act of hatred, but to protect those who come behind us. We needn't get paranoid, but we don't want to be ignorant of the enemy's schemes and devices.
Let me turn to the many people that were positive in the life and heart of Paul:
#3 Vision Expanders: Crescens in Galatia and Titus in Dalmatia are both out doing the work (4:10b).
Principle: We get the privelege of serving with others that are sometimes far away. We hurt with them, and pray for them, but they also add something – they help expand our vision beyond our own work.
#4 Faithful Companions: Luke remains at my side (4:11a).
“A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world goes out.” (Henry Durbanville). There is a delight in sending out people to ministry, but some stay with us and cling to us. What a joy! I could really spend some time here, but there is much to do yet! I keep hearing about Cyber-church, and part time shepherding, etc. We need not to be so foolish as to think we can reinvent real companionship and relationship. The computer is a TOOL to reach into each other's lives, not a substitute.
#5 Restored Ones: Recognize that old conflicts need to be laid to rest (4:11b).
Mark had a spotted past. Most scholars think he was the disciple that ran from the Garden of Gethsemane without his cloak. We know that he was a rich kid from a Cypriot Jewish home. We also know he left Paul on the earliest mission journey and his second attempt to come on board ended up splitting the team of Paul and Mark's uncle Barnabas – a painful moment in Paul's ministry.
Here Paul calls on Mark and makes the point that he is profitable. Principle: Mistakes ARE made in ministry, and we need to recognize them and still love one another. Restoration is a central theme in God's salvation story!
#6 Reinforcers: Timothy needed additional support (and this letter) in Ephesus, so Paul sent Tychicus (4:12).
Principle: We all need those who will under gird and reinforce the work that God has laid on our hearts. Our vision can only be accomplished when many hands and feet move! We have to SEE each other. Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What! You, too? I thought I was the only one." C.S. Lewis.
#7 Old Friends: Priscilla and Aquila had old battle scars from war fought alongside Paul (4:19) as did the worker Onesiphorus (literally, "profit bringer" - 4:19b) a member of the church who boldly supported and encouraged Paul in the past (1:16).
In a survey of more than 40,000 Americans said these qualities were most valued in a friend: “1. The ability to keep confidences 2. Loyalty 3. Warmth and affection.” Psychology Today, quoted in Homemade, June, 1982. Proverbs 17:17 says: “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” True friends are committed for life.
Principle: Paul knew those that served and labored and remembered them fondly. He wanted them to know that he had not forgotten them. Friends are not thrown away after a season. They stick and the days with them slip away, but they live in our hearts.
#8 Supporters: Erastus the city treasurer of Corinth (Rom. 16:23) was not able to be present, but aided the ministry in his own abilities. He couldn't GO, but he could GIVE (4:20). Some were unable to follow due to the failing of their body (4:20) but they desired to be faithful.
Principle: Sometimes the most meaningful friends aren't the ones on the battle line, it is the supply line.
Look at the local church that was Paul's support base: surrounded by believers who made a difference (4:21b), and writing to another church (the YOU is plural in the end of the letter – showing Paul's intent was public reading for this personal letter). Acts 2:42 says the early Christians devoted themselves to fellowship. They just didn’t HAVE fellowship; they devoted themselves to it. This means that fellowship was a priority and one of the objectives for gathering together. They made fellowship a priority.
II. Focus on The Word:
Though Paul requested his letter writing equipment, he particularly wanted the parchments – The Word (4:13).
III. Intimacy with God:
- God stands with me when I am alone (4:17a).
- God gives me the strength to complete the work He has commissioned (4:17b).
- God rescues me from the snare of the enemy (lion – 4:17b).
- God delivers me safely to His home (4:18).
- God is worthy of praise for all the ages! (4:18b)
- God's best followers focus on the three eternal keys: people, the Word and intimacy with God.
God's best followers focus on the three eternal keys: people, the Word and intimacy with God. More keys just add a false complexity to ministry!
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