Sermon Tone Analysis

*He Is Able*

 

*November 27, 2005*

*2 Timothy 4:1-8*

 

*Introduction: Life Is Based on Promises of God*

One of the lovely things about the Lord is that he hides the future from us.

Most of us would love a sneak preview of the future.

We say, “Well, Lord, just give me a glance over the next five years.

Let me know how they’re going to turn out.”

But the longer you live, the more you realize how God is kind to keep the future from us.

It’s mercy that veils our eyes.

How important it is to be able to face that unknown future with absolute confidence and with certainty that while God is working out his purpose universally, he also is working out his program specifically for you and me!

Knowing that our times are in his hands is one of the most wonderful experiences in life.

There’s no way to find out the future.

Jeanne Dixon has everybody brainwashed.

Reading the future is just a cheap, easy way of making money.

The stars have as much effect on you as you have on them.

That’s precisely nil.

How much better to know that your life is based on the secure and certain promises of God!

You don’t need to know the predictions of people, when you realize that God has given us something like three thousand promises in his Word.

Most of us don’t know more than ten of them.

And most of us have hardly experienced six of them.

You know what promises are for?

To keep you from worry.

God knows the way he made us.

That’s why so many of his promises start with “Fear not.”

Then he gives the reason why we shouldn’t fear.

Most of us are marvelous at worry.

The Bible says worry is a sin because, at the moment of worrying, I’m not trusting.

At the moment of trusting, I’m not worrying.

You say, “Oh, I can do both at once.” No, you may be worrying at eight o’ clock and trusting at eight fifteen.

You may be worried stiff at eight thirty and back trusting at eight forty-five.

At the moment of trust, you stop worrying.

At the moment of worry, you stop trusting.

So let’s read today’s Scripture from 2 Timothy, chapter 4 and verses 1-8.

If you have your Bibles with you, please turn there and follow along as I read: \\ ”/And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus—who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: \\ Preach the word of God.

Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not.

Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

\\ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching.

They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear.

\\ They will reject the truth and follow strange myths.

\\ But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.

Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord.

Work at bringing others to Christ.

Complete the ministry God has given you.

\\ As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God.

The time of my death is near.

\\ I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

\\ And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return.

And /the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return.

“

 

*I.

God’s Intention: A Life Free from Worry*

God intends us to live a life of freedom from worry.

Not freedom from concern.

Not a complacency, where I could care less about anything.

That’s being irresponsible.

There’s a world of difference between having a concern and being anxious.

To have a concern or burden that you take to God in prayer is one thing, but to be anxious about the outcome is another.

Now, how can we live in a world of absolute uncertainty and yet be certain of our position and assured that our times are in his hand?

We don’t have to know the way.

We just have to walk with God.

He knows where we’re going, and he will never lead us astray.

Knowing that, you face the unknown future with confidence, not in yourself but in him.

That’s really what Paul is writing about here to young Timothy.

Paul knows he hasn’t much longer to go.

This is the last thing he wrote.

We’re not quite sure how soon he died.

It might have been a year.

In the fourth chapter of this second letter to Timothy, he writes, /“I am now ready to be offered, because the time of my departure is at hand.”/

/ /

It’s very important to be ready when the time of departure is at hand.

Paul is saying, /“As I look back now, I want you to know, Timothy, that I have fought a good fight and kept the faith.

I have finished the course.

Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me in that day.

And not only me, but all them that love his appearing.”/

/ /

He’s saying, /“I know it’s the end of the road.

I know that at last I’m going to see him face to face.

But, Timothy, you’ve still got a long way to run.

I want you to remember your roots and the road you’re traveling.

I want to share something of my experience with you.”/

/ /

You never get the spirit of fear from God.

Will you remember that?

We’re not talking about a holy awe and reverence for his presence.

That’s a fear we should always have.

We’re talking about the fear that has terror in it, the fear that has panic in it, the fear that takes away faith, the fear that chills the spine.

God has not given us the spirit of fear.

We may all feel afraid at times.

But to live with a spirit of fear, that never comes from God.

The apostle John says, /“There is no fear in love.

Perfect love casts out fear.”/ God has not given us the spirit of fear.

But I’ll tell you what he has given us.

He has given us, first of all, a sound mind—clear thinking.

That’s different from a fearing mind.

And he’s given us the spirit of power.

He’s given us the spirit of love.

So he says/, “Don’t be ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

And don’t be ashamed of me, his servant.

I’m languishing in jail.

It’s not by choice, but God put me here.”/

/ /

You know, it’s marvelous why God put Paul in jail and left him there.

When we read the reasons why God does these things, it is easier to handle the things in our own lives.

There’s got a lot of sloppy preaching going on in right now—on radio, on television, and in churches.