Well, good evening, everyone. It is lovely to be back. Alistair, very impressed by all the names.
There's quite a few of them, and some challenging enough. But the church I normally attend is
Bellevue Chapel. For those who have been coming to Brunsfield for a while will be familiar with
Bellevue, as there are some great strong links. But it's lovely to be here this evening. And also,
there was a swap that we needed to make because last week, for very good reasons, but we had people
wanting to be baptized, and Graham filled in for me last week. But it does mean that I'm closing off
this series in 2 Timothy. So I hope, maybe not having been able to listen to all the sermons so
far, that what I can share with you this evening will fit in with what you've looked at so far.
Again, I don't know how many of this series you have been able to listen to or attend to,
if there's quite a few. I hope it's been really worthwhile. It's an absolutely
tremendous letter, one of the most personal ones that we find in the Bible. And yet, although it
was, of course, first and foremost written to Timothy, it is very applicable to us as well.
And talking about applying, that's always the challenge, isn't it? You go through a series,
but what about the application? I do hope that we don't just rush on to the next letter, the next
book, but that we will take time in what God has been speaking to us about as a church, but also as
individuals that we will take time to apply. Well, this evening, the title is Keeping Your Head,
which is not in the ESV, but is actually found in the NIV. But if you don't mind, I'm going to change it
slightly. Because with you tonight, I want to think of the simple words, finishing well.
Finishing well. Because I think that captures what Paul is trying to, in his final charge,
tries to lay on Timothy's heart. And when I talk about finishing well, I had to think of a picture
that I remember seeing in the newspaper a couple of years ago, of a beautiful replica of one of those
17th century ships, one of those tall ships. I don't know if you can picture it. I can't remember
if it was built either in the Netherlands or in England, in the UK itself. But it was built over
several months, maybe even over a year, trying to use the same materials, trying to use the same
techniques as they would have done back in the 17th century. And then they moved the ship,
they sailed the ship all the way across to Australia, where it was to be docked and used as a museum.
And of course, the building took a long time, the sailing took a long time, several weeks.
But the headline in the newspaper was that the ship stranded three miles outside of Sydney Harbor.
Can you imagine the feelings?
The disappointment, the embarrassment, being so close, and yet so far. Even the people waiting on the dock site,
waiting for it to come in and to welcome it, it didn't come. It was stranded and they did repair it.
And I think it's there now. But just one of those examples of not finishing well.
I do remember reading this article at a similar time of being at a conference where one of the speakers
was a man called Don Carson. He's written a variety of books. He's Canadian originally. He's a professor in America.
But one of the most personal things I heard him say during that conference was, and it's not the exact words,
but basically that it was telling us who were sitting there as church leaders,
that he was very conscious of the fact that he, and he was, I think at that time, about 60s, early 60s,
he could still do something that would totally mess up all that he had been able to do for his God and for his King.
He could have done something that would just totally discredit any books that he'd written.
And he wanted to press upon us the need and the importance of finishing well.
It's one thing to start well.
And how exciting. I hope you experience that here in Brunsfield, of people starting off on that journey with Jesus.
And how exciting it is to hear their testimony of how God has been very patiently working,
and how they finally come to say yes to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
But that's only half the story.
The other half is for us to finish well.
And it's hard to finish well.
I mean, the Bible is full of examples.
Think of God's very own people.
Where we know of a whole generation who ended up in the desert and never moved out of the desert,
even though it had been God's intention to move them to the promised land.
Think of King Saul.
Taller than me.
Much better looking than me.
A very obvious choice is king.
Much more obvious than King David.
But as far as we know, he finished his life by throwing himself on a sword.
I was even thinking of the prophet Jonah.
We don't actually know a whole lot about his life.
But you get the impression that the story we get when he's called to Nineveh isn't so much the only thing that he did in his life.
He was a prophet.
So he must have very faithfully and honorably served his God, proclaiming the truths of God.
But the open ending of the book of Jonah gives us that question mark.
Did Jonah ultimately finish well himself?
And I think that's the essence of what Paul's final charge is all about to his dear son in the faith, Timothy.
By the way, there's a little side note.
I remember running a summer camp and I wasn't very well versed yet in the Bible.
And somebody asked me, so was Paul a father?
Well, me reading about him calling Timothy a son, I thought, well, he must have been married.
He must have been a father.
But this is a son in the faith, Timothy.
And he loved him dearly, like as if it was one of his own sons.
And tonight I simply want to look at, first of all, the how we finish well.
Secondly, the why we must finish well.
But also, lastly, the help that is available to finish well.
Is that okay?
Three points?
First, the how, the why, and then the help.
Because we'll need help.
First of all, then the how.
I think the how is found in verse 5.
It says in verse 5, and I'm just reading from the NIV, it says there, but keep your head.
There's the title of tonight's sermon.
Keep your head.
In the ESV, it says be sober-minded.
Keep your head sorry in all situations.
Endure hardship.
Do the work of an evangelist.
And discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Or again, if you're using the ESV, which is more literal.
The more literal translation is fulfill your ministry.
Four elements.
And what I find very interesting here is that actually the list doesn't allow us as followers of Christ to simply cruise through our Christian life here on earth.
We don't finish well by running off into the desert, sitting in some kind of cave, or for that matter, even running to church and hiding in church.
Desperately seeking to avoid any danger or any conflict or any distraction or any temptation.
I think Paul very simply wants us to realize that part of finishing well comes from doing.
Now, I know this is a slight generalization, but I sometimes get the impression that Protestant theology has at times moved away from works and have been shy to talk about works being part of the Christian life.
Because, and this is very true, this is very much what the Bible teaches us.
We are saved by faith alone.
And it's true, let there be no doubt about it.
It's as simple, but also as challenging as that.
That simply by believing who the Lord Jesus is, and that he died for you and for me on that cross, and that his death took away our sins,
so that we receive a righteousness that is of God, is how we become a Christian.
But the Bible is very clear that what follows faith is works, is doing, is obedience.
There's another word that isn't all that popular anymore.
But faith works.
From faith comes service.
To give you an example, in Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, he says, at the end of chapter 15, he says,
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.
Let nothing move you.
And always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Now, I know in myself, I have a tendency to sometimes rely on what I do for God, that that will buy me his approval.
So again, I also will try very much to rely on faith.
But we mustn't be shy on understanding that part of finishing well is faith combined with works.
And Paul says here in verse 5, that part of that doing should be the work of an evangelist.
And part of that doing should be to fulfill our ministry.
And yes, these both apply to Timothy as well as ourselves.
Now, of course, the Bible teaches that there are certain people with the special gift of evangelism.
But hopefully, we will also know that in many different places in the Bible, but specifically Matthew 28,
it teaches all of the followers of Jesus, without exception, that we are to go into the world and make disciples.
Baptizing them and teaching them all that Jesus had been teaching us.
And when it comes to fulfilling the ministry, very specifically, Paul mentions in chapter 4, verse 2,
that the ministry, referring to Timothy, is to preach the word.
Which I think sometimes automatically makes us think of a pastor standing on a platform preaching.
But actually, the word there, the literal word there, is proclaim the word.
And some clever theologian from Canada, sorry, from Australia, totally different part of the world,
from Australia, called Peter Adam, actually very wisely, I think, points out the fact that
proclaiming the word, or the ministry of the word, is much more than just what happens on a Sunday morning or a Sunday evening.
And then actually, it is the call of all of Christ's followers to also handle God's word correctly.
In the sense that even in a home group setting, we proclaim the word.
Even in our home setting, if we have family worship, or even in a one-to-one, we proclaim the word.
And so both the going out there, sharing our faith, handling, as well as handling God's word correctly,
will help us to finish well.
And I'll explain this to you.
I believe that the more we speak, or share God's word with one another,
in all these different kind of settings,
the more it actually helps us in our own understanding,
our own conviction, as well as our own joy.
You have a Sunday school here, don't you?
Maybe you call it something. What do you call it here?
Kids Church.
Is any one of you involved in Kids Church?
A few of you.
Do you ever feel that you are totally capable
in serving the children that you serve?
Most people, certainly when people enter into that wonderful work,
don't feel capable, or don't feel they have all the knowledge or the know-how.
But actually, because of the simple discipline of having to prepare the lessons,
prepare for the next Sunday,
gets us into the word,
and by serving the children,
we find, and I'm not speaking for you,
but I have found so often people growing in their own faith,
stronger,
wiser.
I certainly experience it as a pastor.
I have to be very honest
that I wonder if I would be
studying God's word as much as I would
if I didn't have to
prepare for another Sunday.
And I see it as a great blessing
and a great privilege
that I cannot preach
or feed people
if I do not feed myself first.
And through it,
I have realized
that God allows me
to grow deeper
and stronger
and that I wouldn't be where I am now.
Now, the other thing,
he says,
that strikes me about this
isn't just the doing,
but it's also the importance of the mind,
says Paul,
with regards to finishing well.
Literally, it says,
be sober-minded
or keep your head.
The word that Paul uses here
refers to anything from
being alert,
being awake,
being watchful,
even with a hint of concentration.
In the best picture,
and it's probably not a good picture,
but have you ever been to London?
That's the only place I can think of it.
But anyone ever been to London?
It is a busy place.
Now, I'm really nice and tall,
so on the underground,
it's okay for me.
But we were there recently
with our little girls,
and boy,
they found it stifling
and very busy.
But we went to the horse guards parade.
There you have them,
on the horses.
And everybody does the same joke,
don't they?
They try to distract them.
But they train.
Not to be distracted.
They're focused.
Part of it is, of course,
symbolism,
and there is,
but they have a job to do.
If anything would happen,
they would be right there.
They're alert.
They're awake.
They are sober-minded
in many ways.
And Paul says,
so must we.
I actually wonder how we would do
if that was our job.
I wonder if I would actually get bored.
I mean,
I don't know how long
their shifts are,
but having to sit there
with all these people
pulling funny faces,
I might get fed up
and say,
I'm going to try to do something else.
But we'd certainly,
a lot of us,
would be distracted.
Now,
how does that work
in our walk with God?
What distracts us?
I don't know
if it matters
what age you are,
what season in life you are.
There will always be things
that will distract us
from faithfully following Jesus.
and following him closely.
We've been looking at
the book of Daniel,
which I think you're doing
in the morning.
Then you'll know that
in chapter 1,
Daniel resolves
not to defile himself.
And he does that
by choosing
not to take any wine
or any of the meat
or the nice delicacies
of the king.
Now,
there wasn't anything wrong
with that.
But it's simply Daniel
wanting to make sure
that he doesn't get
too comfortable.
He doesn't get distracted.
He never wants
to forget
his true home.
He wants to remain
sober-minded.
Live in the world,
but not allow
the world
to live in him.
How is that with us?
Even the word
endure,
where Paul talks about
enduring suffering,
picks up that image
of a marathon.
Well,
there was a marathon today
in Edinburgh.
I don't think
I'll ever end up
doing that again.
Running is boring.
No,
sorry,
if I have heard
anybody's feelings there.
But anyway,
with a marathon,
it must be so hard,
you know,
those last couple
of miles
to keep going,
to finish the race.
And you must need
all the cheers
and the people
pushing you on.
But that's us.
We're on a journey.
We are on that race.
This world
is not our home.
We are just passing through.
Heaven is our true home.
And we must
do everything
in our power
to set our eyes
and our mind
on the truth
and the reality
still to come.
I wonder if we
actually take our mind
as serious as we should.
I find a lot of
even Christians say,
well,
as long as it's up here,
it won't do anybody harm.
I think God knows
that what is up here
often comes out.
Hence,
in Philippians,
Paul says,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely
and commendable,
if there's anything
worthy of praise,
think about these things.
What occupies our mind?
What needs cleaned up?
What takes away
our alertness?
Is it pride?
Is it bitterness?
Is it immorality?
Remember what it says,
the great commandment?
Love the Lord your God
with all your
heart,
soul,
mind,
and strength.
So there's the how.
By doing the work
of an evangelist,
by proclaiming the word,
by keeping our head.
And here's the why.
And I'm sure that
I'll touch on a few things
that you've already
looked at in the series
so far.
May they serve
as a reminder.
But Paul mentions
three reasons
why we must work
so hard
at making sure
we finish well.
First of all,
there's the danger
of wondering.
Secondly,
there's the discouragement
of opposition.
And thirdly,
the reality
of judgment.
First of all,
the danger of wondering
is mentioned
in verse 3 and 4
where Paul says,
for the time will come
when men will not
put up with sound doctrine.
Instead,
to suit their own desires,
they will gather
around them
a great number
of teachers
to say what their
itching ears
want to hear.
And they will turn
their ears away
from the truth
and turn aside
to myths.
people will wonder.
People will wonder
towards myths.
And this wondering
will happen
as a result
of consciously
deciding to move
away from God
until we move
in the opposite
direction of God.
It might start subtly
that we start
questioning things
in the Bible
as maybe not being true
and then we start
wondering,
well,
if that isn't true,
then maybe something
else isn't true either
and we struggle
with miracles
and we end up
denying the resurrection
of Jesus.
Paul,
unfortunately,
has experienced
this himself.
If you look
at verse 10,
he mentioned
a man called Demas.
And Demas,
he says,
because he loved
this world,
has deserted me
and has gone
to Thessalonica.
Here's someone
who has wondered
off.
And I'm sure
that Paul doesn't
just want Timothy
to realize
that there are
other people
that might wander off,
but he wants
Timothy to realize
he could wander off.
And I'm sure
he even includes
himself,
that he himself
could be naive
and also realize
he could wander
off himself.
What about
the opposition?
Well,
Paul mentions it
in chapter 1,
verse 8,
chapter 2,
verse 3 and 9.
And in our passage,
it comes as an example
in the person
of Alexander.
Chapter 4,
verse 14 and 15,
he says,
Alexander,
the metal worker,
did me a great deal
of harm,
and the Lord
will repay him
for what he has done.
You too should be
on your guard
against him
because he strongly
opposed our message.
As a church
in Bellevue,
we have been looking
at the book
of Ezra and Nehemiah.
We've been looking
at the book of Acts.
We've been looking
at the gospel
of Luke.
We have
tumbled
over the fact
that time and time again,
opposition is part
of the Christian life.
The opposition
might come from
the outside in,
it might come
from within,
but there are
constantly
people,
even spiritual
opposition
in the form
of Satan himself
who is described
as a roaring lion
seeking who
he may devour
that will try
to discourage us,
tip us up,
try to keep us away
and take us away
from the Lord.
The result
that might be
that because
of the opposition
we want to give up,
it's too hard.
And Paul knows
that and has
experienced that himself.
But I think
the most important
one that Paul
wants to hold
before Timothy
is simply
the reality
of judgment.
He says it twice
in our passage.
Chapter 4,
verse 1,
he says,
in the presence
of God
and of Christ Jesus
who will judge
the living
and the dead
and in view
of his appearing
and his kingdom,
I give you
this chart.
And again
in verse 8,
he says,
now there is
in store for me
the crown
of righteousness
which the Lord,
the righteous
judge,
will award me
on that day
and not only
to me
but also
to all
who have longed
for his appearing.
Timothy,
Brunsfield,
you may face
opposition.
Any of us
could be in danger
of starting
to wander
away from truth.
But most
of all,
there is
in the future
a day
where we
will have
to face
the judgment
seat of God.
Now,
in many ways,
this is good news.
And if there's
anyone who is
here tonight
who's ever
suffered injustice
or ever suffered
from pain
or have been
a victim
on the receiving
end of injustice,
this is great news
because one day
things will be
set right.
But it's also
bad news
because it
includes us.
But fortunately,
there's also
good news
because in
Christ Jesus,
we have nothing
to fear,
only to look
forward to.
When we come
before the throne
and we can
claim the grace
and mercy
that was
brought through
Jesus,
but also
if we've
lived faithfully
like Paul
received the
crown
of righteousness.
But if we
live consciously
with that future,
knowing that
there will be
a day
that all of us
will have to
give account
of our life,
will help us
as Paul
to finish
well.
It will
motivate us.
And I really
think that
these three,
the reality
of wondering,
the opposition
as well as
the future
judgment day
really put
power in
Paul's charge.
Paul is not
giving a little
pat on the back
to Timothy.
It's not a little
hot cup of
cocoa.
It's just
encouraging.
Paul knows
what lies ahead
for Timothy.
And his charge
comes from a
deep,
deep care
and love.
And I hope
you feel that
deep love
and care.
Because I hope,
honestly hope
that we will
all of us
see each other
in the life
after this.
That we will
not come to
heaven and all
of a sudden
thinking,
I used to
sit next to
so and so
and they're
not here.
But let me
finish on the
encouraging word
and the news
that there is
help.
Because I don't
want anyone,
and I don't
think Paul
wanted Timothy
to go away
frightened and
worried.
Am I just
going to drop
off?
Am I going
to slip?
No,
Paul says
there is
help.
And help
comes really
in two
forms.
And I
think it's
really important
to acknowledge
and receive
the help
that is
available.
Sometimes I
think in our
individualistic
society we
fall in the
trap of
applying all
this on our
own.
But we need
help and it's
there.
And the first
help is
actually Paul
offering in
himself.
Look with me
to verse 6,
7,
and 8.
He says,
For I,
Timothy,
am already
being poured
out like a
drink offering,
and the time
has come for
my departure.
I have
fought the
good fight.
I have
finished the
race.
I have
kept the
faith.
Now there
is in store
for me the
crown of
righteousness.
What is
Paul doing?
I don't
think he's
boasting.
I don't
think he's
always saying
to Timothy,
you know,
na, na, na,
na, na,
I'm already
here.
Now you
try.
That's not
Paul.
I think
Paul simply
wants to
encourage
Timothy to
realize,
you know,
it is
possible.
And if
you know
of any,
even part
of what
Paul had
to go
through for
his faith,
the lashings,
the imprisonments,
yet for
him to
testify that
he's finished
the race,
kept the
faith,
he's saying
to Timothy,
it is also
possible for
you to
follow my
example,
be encouraged,
and remember
me.
That Paul
himself was
able to do
it,
meaning also
you can.
Practically,
I think it
means,
and I'm
borrowing a
phrase that I
found in a
book written
by John
Piper,
where he
says,
in one of
his chapters,
he says,
read Christian
biography.
Basically,
that chapter
is all about
that we
should make
more effort
in reading
of some
of the,
we call
them heroes
of the
faith.
I think
that's a
terrible,
terrible
phrase or
title.
Paul isn't
a hero
of the
faith,
he is just
like one
of us.
We shouldn't
put him
on a
pedestal,
but we
should learn
from his
life and
how he
remained
faithful to
Jesus.
And we
should read
all the
Christian
biography that
is in the
Bible,
but throughout
history,
there are so
many great
books out
there that
can encourage
us,
of people
that have
gone before
us.
I also
think that
is what
church is
all about.
We should
allow people
to read our
biographies,
we should
share stories,
much more
than we do.
and I
would say
to the
younger
people in
this
congregation,
look at
the older
generation
who are
a little
bit closer
to going
to the
true home
and learn
from how
they have
continued
to stand
firm and
keep the
faith.
That's what
Paul is
doing.
And vice
versa,
those who
are a little
bit further
in the
season of
life,
allow and
take the
opportunity to
teach generations
growing up
what you've
learned to
stick to
the path
and to
the road.
Paul offers
himself as
that help.
But lastly,
and most
importantly,
the help
comes from
Jesus himself.
Because Paul
says in
verse 17,
but the
Lord stood
at my
sight and
gave me
strength,
so that
through me
the message
might be
fully
proclaimed,
and all
the Gentiles
might hear
it.
And I
was
delivered
from the
lion's
mouth.
And again
in verse
18,
he says,
the Lord
will rescue
me from
every evil
attack.
Here are
two thoughts
to finish
on.
Finish
well does
come from
combining
faith with
works and
doing,
serving the
Lord.
It is also
being aware
of opposition
and the
danger of
wandering.
But the
helper
kid is a
Jesus who
will strengthen
us at
every stage
of our
journey.
What's one
of the names
given to
Jesus?
He is
Emmanuel,
God with
us.
God
with
God with
me.
But we
should.
Because God
hasn't
changed.
And the
same God
who gave
strength to
Paul,
and through
what Paul is
sharing here,
would give the
strength to
Timothy,
would also be
the one giving
strength to
each one of
us.
But most
importantly,
is that the
Lord will not
just give
strength,
he also is
able and
willing to
rescue us
from every
evil attack
and will
bring us
safely to
his heavenly
kingdom.
So ultimately,
understanding the
call to not
just start well,
but also to
finish well,
boils down to
trust,
and starting
each day
in dependence
of him and
say,
Lord, I
need your
strength.
I need you
to take me
safely home.
Let's pray
together.
Lord, we
thank you so
much again for
your precious
word,
how every
part of your
word is
inspired by
you,
is your
living word
to us
today,
and we
thank you
for Paul's
words to
Timothy and
through Timothy
to us
tonight.
I pray that
whatever stage
we are in
our following
of you,
Lord Jesus,
that you
will give us
that strength
to do
whatever is
necessary,
to put in
that extra
effort to
not only
start well,
but also to
finish well,
to fight the
fight, to
keep the
faith and
finish this
race, but
knowing that
we can call
on your
help that
is available
to us all
the time.
Lord, it is
my prayer that
we may all
see one
another in
our eternal
home in
heaven, but
we need you to
take us
safely there.
So I pray
that for this
church, I
pray that for
Bellevue, for
other churches
in this city,
in this country,
Lord, help
your people,
your children,
to keep the
faith and to
finish well,
for your glory
and for your
honor, in
Christ's name.
Amen.