The Charge!
II
Timothy Four
I
am writing from the amplified version; My favorite right now, next to King
James.
Most
people have the idea, mistaken idea, that the only ministers are those who
stand in the pulpit. That being the case, leave all the calling to them, the
praying to them, the witnessing to them, etc. If that be the case, then I ask
you, "Why Are We Called? Why, if that be the case, do we even dare to call
ourselves Christians? If we never feel that we have a part in ministry, then we
are lazy, greedy people who just want a free ride.
II
Timothy 4:1 - The Charge:
Who do
you say the charge is for? Someone just said, "Pastor of
course." No, friends, that is not the case at all. The pastor is
there to oversee the church, with the help of the board. The pastor is there to
preach and to teach, so as to prepare the church for its ministry. That
ministry is there to encompass all of the above said statements, or categories.
Verse
one begins with these words: "I Charge you." Not someone
around the corner, or someone behind you, or up in the balcony, but YOU.
He
goes on to say: “I charge you to Herald, (sound forth), and preach the
word.” Jesus said: "if you go, I'll go with you. Preach my
gospel and I'll preach with you.”
"Lord if
I go, tell me what to say, the world won't believe in me."
Those are words to an old song written and sung by Bud Chambers, musician from
the south. Do you realize that in a sense, we are God's disciples?
The
call, To Herald, is to get the attention of the people. It is often hard to get
the attention of people. If you are alert, you will understand that statement.
The
Marching Order: Preach the word. The Word wasn't meant to
tickle the ears of the listener, or their fancy. This is what too many are
doing, but rather to reach down to where the people live, their heart, to
convict, or whatever the need may be. The un-adulterated, un-compromising Word
of truth. Truth is what hurts. We need to be hurt more than ever before because
the church, you and me, have become so lax.
I
see the church heading in the wrong direction. When I say, "wake up!" I am not
referring to the emotional highs that I see on television. That emotion is gone
almost as quickly as it began, and is seldom experienced again until the church
doors are entered. Don't get me wrong, I like emotion as well as you do,
but the emotional high doesn't carry the church or meet it's needs. People are
saying, "we need this to keep the church alive." I say, no we
don't! The same church program that was good for me, is good for
anyone. Pastor said to me the other day, “I see ten years down the
road, that we will be lucky if we have a church to go to.” I believe
in the joyful noise to the Lord. It's commanded, but sometimes it only reaches
our head, but never touches the heart. If we have no joy in our heart, we will
never expect joy to enter another's heart. People watch us, and they say all to
often, “If this is Christianity, I don't want it." Sad words
to hear.
2nd
Part of the Charge: Keep your sense of
urgency:
Folks,
we are living in more perilous times than ever before, and until Jesus comes, I
don't see it getting any better. The church and our faith are constantly
being placed on the chopping block. If you never had a real sense of urgency to
get close to God, and to do His work, Get It Now.
Next
He Says: "Standby, be at hand
and ready":
I
take this to mean, BE ON WATCH! Ready to meet the need at hand. Most of
us have been in church all of our lives, and shame on us, if we can't recognize
a need right in our own back yard. Look at all the violence. People who are
violent have needs; real need, and the psychologists and sociologist, with all
their education, aren't going to solve the problem. Only Jesus has the answer.
We are to help.
The
Word says, "Thou are inexcusable, o man," so folks, we don't
have a leg to stand on. Pastor can't do it alone, he needs us. We are the church
too.
Finally:
Be
Ready, whether your opportunity is favorable, or unfavorable. Convenient, or
inconvenient, Welcome, or unwelcome. You, as the preacher/disciple, are to
preach the Word, to show people in what way their lives are wrong, convincing them
without wavering.
The
call to arms is here, now. So let us March and win for Jesus.
V5:
As
for you, be calm and cool, and steady. Accept and suffer, unflinchingly, every
hardship. Do the work of an evangelist. Fully perform all the duties of your ministry.
God
Bless You,
