Sunday, October 24, 2010

Paul's Last Words to Timothy

Sitting in a cold dark cell awaiting execution, Paul could have been considering recantation to avoid death. He could have been nursing his own wounds, feeling abandoned by men and God. But He wasn't. He was making sure his young disciple, Timothy, had some last words of encouragement before Paul was beheaded. Timothy, make God's Word the central focus of your ministry because "the time has come for my departure..."
*Rely on the simple faith you have known since infancy. God's Word has been valued by your mother and grandmother and you know their example of faith.
*Make God's Word your focus, no matter how you feel or what your audience wants to hear. Preach the Word.
*Preach the Word because time is short. Time is short because Christ is coming back. Time is short because error and apostasy are creeping in.
Faithfulness to God's Word in ministry was Timothy's only guarantee of effectiveness.

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