Sermon Tone Analysis

! Introduction

Background – Paul writes the second of two letters that we know of, to Timothy (perhaps 35-40 years old?), his [true son] (dear son) in the faith.

The second letter to Timothy was probably written within a year of the first (62-64 AD).

Written in Rome, where Paul was for a second time a prisoner (Acts 28:16) (2 Tim 1:8, 2:9), and sent to Timothy by the hands of Tychicus (2 Tim 4:12).

In the letter he earnestly requests Timothy to come to him before winter, to bring his cloak, his scrolls (2 Tim 4:13), and to bring Mark with him (2 Tim 4:11 comp.

Phil.

2:22).

Paul sees the writing on the wall and anticipates that "the time of his departure was at hand" (2 Tim.

4:6) and he exhorts his "son Timothy" to be diligent and to remain steadfast and patient under persecution (1:6-15).

Paul encourages Timothy to be faithful in the discharge of his calling (4:1-5).

The letter carries the weight of Paul's burden for the gospel and the fact that he would soon appear before the Lord of all the earth.

Written probably not long before Rome caught fire, when Nero ruled Rome.

After the fire he needed a scapegoat and he blamed Christians, who were already hated by some Roman people.

Christians were considered to be “killjoys” (someone who spoils the pleasure for others), and associated by some with human sacrifice through a misunderstanding of the Lords table and Jesus words, “unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood …”.

In Rome (Emporer Worship) and Ephesus (Diana Worship, Trade), just as in our day, the gospel message is often not well understood or received by those with whom we share it.

So in a very real sense nothing has changed.

However it is all too easy to draw back into a comfort zone, and begin to rationalise the current situation.

For some say that God has turned His back on Australia.

Or that Australians are too hard in their hearts towards God.

Others seem to think that it is much too difficult to share the gospel today, but one day when the Spirit moves, things will be different.

In this kind of thinking the message is held back until “the promise of revival comes.”

At this point it will all of a sudden be the right time to speak.

In the meantime, do we keep our faith to ourselves?

No, may God forbid!

Illustration, a so-called "secret disciple" at a former workplace - an introvert, who saw nothing wrong with keeping his faith so personal that he would never share it.

It’s so easy to sing songs like, “Tell the world that Jesus lives”, without there being any practical response to what it is that we sing about.

Why am I labouring this?

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul writes this second letter to Timothy, he knows his time on this earth will soon be up (2 Tim 4:6-9).

He uses some of his last recorded words to encourage Timothy to remain steadfast in the faith and in his calling.

He reminds Timothy that the gospel message holds the promise of life.

Don’t be ashamed of me, a leader in the church, in prison for the sake of the gospel.

Don’t be ashamed of the gospel.

We live in a day of a world of philospohies and religious ideas, no moral absolutes, and legislated religious tolerance.

We run the risk of watering down, or changing the content of the gospel message to be more culturally relevant.

It was Paul’s concern that the message he entrusted to Timothy was to be entrusted to other faithful men.

Why?

Because there were men who wanted to change the gospel message (over realising their eschatology).

Also because Paul wanted to ensure that there were those ready to continue to take the message forward in the event that Paul and Timothy are out to death for their faith under Nero’s tyrannical rule.

The last words of Jesus, stay that you might be filled with the Holy Spirit and be my witnesses.

The last recorded words of Paul …

 

So what is this important message?

What is the gospel?

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!

The Gospel

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by */the will of God/*, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus.”

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It is the gospel of God.

It is God’s message.

It is the good news from heaven.

God sends His messengers to communcicate it.

The gospel or good news reveals two things to us - The character of God, and the need in our lives.

!! The Gospel Reveals The Character Of God

What is the God of the gospel like?

He is above all else, a mighty God!

We live in a fast paced world where the efforts and achievements of men~/women are readily discussed, what we do, what we can do.

We are easily blinkered and focus on our own problems, challenges, and responsibilities.

We can live in such a way that it is easy to get too busy to consider the God who has called us into relationship with Himself.

Familiarity and superficiality introduce the danger of us losing the sense of the majesty of God in our lives and in our collective gatherings.

\\ After all it is popular of recent times, to say these days that God is my friend, my daddy.

This may be true (Abraham – God’s friend, Romans – Abba Father).

But we need to be careful not to develop an imbalanced view of God.

Don’t allow a few words to contain God.

Remember that He is also an awesome God, the sovereign Lord of the universe, and the judge of all men!

Psalm 113:4-6 – The Lord is exalted over the nations, his glory above the heavens.

Who is like our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

Yet, this same God is not out of the reach of men.

No wonder the Psalmist said, “Oh magnify the Lord with me”.

I like to think of the revelation of God being like a magifying glass.

From underneath we look at the object above and we see Him large, but below the glass we also feel the intensity of God’s gaze, the purity of His love.

Muse on this – discipline your mind and think about it.

May God be magnified in our thinking.

Our society suggests that we sit down and amuse ourselves, essentially sit down and don’t think, watch TV and be amused, you don’t have to think just be entertained.

But dare to be different.

The bible says that we are to, “Love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and strength”.

We are spiritual people, but God has given us a mind to use - not to limit our understanding of God, but to enrich our thinking, to muse on Him.

Is God, your ‘god’, or is He your ‘God’?

Is he able to do exceeding abundantly in your life and experience?

Not based on a magic formula but a God who responds to faith based on a word that he places in your hearts.

Romans 1:1 Paul, …separated to the */gospel of God/* .The gospel of God is the gospel “good news” concerning His Son.

The heart of the gospel message is revealed to us in 1 Cor 15:3 Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures (the fulfillment of what God promised via His messengers) – revealing to us *His faithfulness*.

*His holiness *is revealed by the fact that the Father could not bear to look upon sin and turned His face away from His only begotten Son.* *

*His justice *is revealed by the fact that He sent His Son to the cross to bear the sins of many.

*His love* is revealed in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

*His long suffering* is revealed in the fact that while we were His enemies, and many of us cursed Him, he was patient in His dealings with us.

Rightly, the Psalmist asked the question, “Who is man that thou art mindful of him?”

But God is mindful of man; He has sent His messengers to humanity.

His messenger, Paul, sits in a dark, damp, cold Roman prison.

He lives in the reign of Nero, and belongs to a group that Nero hated.

Paul sits in reflection as he awaits sentencing and inevitable death.

Filled with uncertainty of his own physical treatment, and of his immediate future, but Paul is confident in His God – “though I am chained God’s word is not chained”.

God graciously sends men amongst us – gifts to the church, evangelists, some say to lead men to Jesus, although the apostles seemed to present Christ before men and command men to repent.

!! The Gospel Reveals Our Need

Illustration, a work colleague once declared to me that he had never sinned.

Only a sinner needs a Saviour.

Christ died for our sins!

As sinners, we find ourselves with a guilty conscience before a Holy God because of sin.

We are awaiting death and inevitable judgement for that sin (Heb 9:27).

But while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us - good news (Rom 5:8).

The gospel is good news those whose hearts are stirred by the message, who are moved by the Spirit of God (awakened) to action.

The seed comes forth in the message but good soil is needed for the seed to take root.

The good soil is that fertile ground prepared in the hearts of men ready to hear the good news, the gospel of God.

Good soil is the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts (the fruit of repentance).

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!! The Gospel Of God Holds The Promise Of Life