Thanks very much, Bogdan. And what you won't know is that I said to Bogdan, no, you can certainly read the passage tonight instead of me.
So you can have a go at all those names.
But it's a really great privilege of mine to be here tonight.
So as Bogdan said, my name's Craig.
I'm the pastor in training here at Brunsfield.
And all through the summer, we've been going through this great letter, 2 Timothy.
This wee, wee book towards the end of the Bible, but it's so packed full of really, really important stuff for how we operate as a church.
How gospel workers should, the things that they should really prioritize.
So it's a really, really key letter for us, even though it's so small.
But to start us off, I wondered if you've ever looked at an old photo album.
You know, the old photos that you used to get, the glossy, wee piece of paper that sort of size.
If you've ever flicked through an old photo album, there might be landscapes, there might be people in those photos,
there might be pets or family members, but there's usually one character who's missing in a photo album.
Who is the man behind the camera?
Who is the person taking the picture?
And most of the time, that person is not featured.
They're missing because they're on the other side of the camera.
Maybe you've watched a sports match and you're so familiar with a commentator's voice,
but you've no idea what the commentator looks like.
Who is the commentator behind the voice?
Or maybe the painter.
Who is the painter behind the painting?
So we're going to be thinking a lot about the man behind the pen.
Who is this Paul?
Paul.
So through most of this letter, we've been learning bits and pieces about him,
but most of his focus has been instructions to Timothy.
This is what I want you to do after I've gone, after I've died.
This is what I want you to focus on as you lead the church into the next generation,
as you take this gospel baton from me, and as you pass it on to the next generation.
And what we've learned about Paul in this letter is that he has committed his life to preaching the word.
And last week, in this passage that we looked at last week,
we saw him strongly command Timothy to do the exact same thing,
to make sure that preaching the word was his central task,
the main thing that he does, what he prioritizes above everything else in church.
Why must Timothy preach the word?
So that people will hear the gospel and be saved.
So that Christians might be built up in their faith and come to maturity.
And thirdly, so that a new generation of leaders might be identified and equipped
so that they can be the ones that lead the church into the future.
So Timothy must preach the word.
But all the way through this letter, we've also been remembering that Paul is in prison.
As he writes this letter, he is in a Roman prison,
and he knows that he's soon to be put to death
because he's remained faithful to Jesus,
he's stuck with Jesus,
and he's stuck to his task of preaching the word.
And that's why he's in prison.
That's why he's going to be put to death.
We know that Paul has fought the good fight.
He's finished the race.
He's kept the faith.
That's what he tells us just before this passage.
But we also know that Paul has been staunchly positive
about the fact that he's going to die.
Even though the storm clouds are gathering,
even though the gloom of death is getting nearer and nearer,
he has been staunchly positive.
But in this passage, we are drawing attention to his suffering.
Paul wants us to know that he is truly suffering.
He doesn't draw attention to his physical suffering, though.
The things that he wants Timothy to know about
are the things that are crushing his spirit,
namely the isolation that he's feeling
and the opposition that he's recently faced.
Isolation and opposition.
These are the things that he wants to draw Timothy's attention to.
But we've always got to ask the big question, why?
Why is Paul wanting to draw attention to these struggles?
Why does he give us this passage in 2 Timothy?
I think it's because he wants Timothy and all church leaders
and preachers and teachers
and all the people that are going to follow Timothy down through the ages,
he wants them to know that they are going to experience
the same things as Paul,
the same sense of isolation,
the same serious and painful opposition,
if they remain committed to preaching the word.
And these things, the sense of isolation,
the strong opposition that Paul faces,
we need to take this seriously
because these things can seriously knock the pastor
or the church leader or the elder.
And we need to take this seriously
because if a pastor is knocked hard enough by these things,
it can be enough to knock his church
it could knock his ministry,
it could knock his family,
it could stop him from preaching the gospel altogether.
But Paul doesn't just leave us with these negative things.
What does Paul say that's going to keep him,
Paul, and fellow pastors going to the end?
Well, it's another two things,
the companionship of fellow believers
and the Lord's strengthening presence.
So in times of isolation and opposition,
we're going to see that the pastor can depend
on the Lord's strengthening presence
and be bolstered by the companionship of Christian friends.
So we're going to look at the two things
that can crush the spirit of the pastor,
isolation and opposition.
But then we'll look at the two things that Paul says
can strengthen the pastor,
the companionship of believers
and the Lord's strengthening presence.
So let's jump in.
So let's look first at the pastor's sense of isolation.
So if we think about Paul,
if you know a thing or two about Paul,
we know that he had a mighty faith in the Lord Jesus.
But even still,
his prison experience must have been really tough.
How would you feel
if you were locked up in a hole in the ground
and at any moment,
the prison governor could come,
unlock your cell
and lead you out to the firing squad?
Imagine going to sleep at night
or trying to go to sleep at night,
not knowing if you would make it to the morning.
At any moment,
you could be led out and put to death.
This experience must have been
extremely trying for Paul
and a real test of his faith.
This was not a nice experience for Paul.
This was not a 21st century prison
where he could play on his PS5
and go out for his exercise in the gym every day.
This was really tough for Paul,
but what would make it even worse
would be having to endure all these things
utterly alone.
Paul is alone.
But we've got to ask the question,
where is everyone else?
I don't know if you noticed,
if you counted,
but there are 18 individuals
mentioned in this passage.
Where is everyone?
Well, the first person we're going to focus on
is someone who's abandoned Paul
and we read that in verse 10.
We're told that Demas had deserted Paul
and he'd gone to Thessalonica
because he loved the world.
Demas is mentioned in two other places
in the New Testament
which shows us that he's quite a key player.
He shows up in Colossians
and he's mentioned in Philemon as well
and he's described as a fellow worker of Paul's.
He seems to be on a par
with Paul's dear friend, Luke,
the physician who writes the gospel of Luke.
So Demas is a proper player.
Demas had been a longtime companion
and a close friend of Paul's.
He'd been a fellow worker in the gospel.
He'd likely witnessed and experienced
the same massive highs of preaching the gospel
to the Gentiles,
seeing people coming to faith,
but he'd also experienced the massive lows
of gospel ministry as well
and experienced that same persecution.
But I think when push came to shove,
when Demas began to feel the heat of persecution,
it clearly became too much for him.
And when Paul was arrested,
he ran for the hills.
He abandoned Paul.
And when it says he loved the world,
what does it mean?
Well, I think it means that Demas desired the comfort
that the world offers
rather than the suffering that the gospel guarantees.
And then I suppose we need to just imagine
what it felt like for Paul then
when Demas abandoned him.
Well, I think it must have been
an absolute kick in the teeth for Paul.
Paul had taken this man under his wing.
He'd possibly led him to faith.
He discipled him.
He'd given him opportunities to step up and be useful.
He had loved him.
And he'd spent many highs and lows with him
only for Demas to turn his back on it all
and to walk away.
Now, I think every pastor that we meet today
could share a similar story of desertion.
It is crushing when we see keen
and promising Christians walk away.
But can you imagine how crushing it must be
for the pastor
who has taught that person
and who's invested in that person
and done all that they can?
Desertion can be deeply unsettling for the pastor
because they can begin to question,
what did I do wrong?
Could I have done more?
Could I have prayed for that individual more?
Were there any warning signs that I missed?
Were there some struggles behind the scenes
that I could have helped with?
Paul keenly feels the pain of Demas' desertion.
And I'm sure he writes,
I'm sure as he writes about him,
I'm sure he's also praying for Demas.
Paul knows where Demas is after all.
And he's told Timothy where Demas is.
He's in Thessalonica.
And we can only imagine
what Paul must be thinking about Demas.
But I think Timothy might even be tasked to go,
go and visit him on his way back to Ephesus.
We can only wonder.
There are some people we shouldn't give up on just yet,
but we need to pray for them.
So that was Demas.
Demas the deserter.
But where's everyone else?
Well, Crescens has gone to Galatia.
Titus has gone to Dalmatia.
Mark has gone to Philippatia.
No, I'm just joking.
We don't know exactly where Mark is,
but he is a really helpful worker, we're told.
But he's elsewhere.
He's not with Paul.
Tychicus is on his way to Ephesus.
Carpus is in Troas.
Priscilla and Aquila are in Ephesus.
And so is the household of Anesiphorus.
Erastus is in Corinth.
Trophimus is sick in Miletus.
It seems that only faithful Luke has stuck with Paul.
But these people who are scattered all over Europe,
these people are not like Demas.
They haven't deserted Paul.
These people have been sent out
to preach the gospel in other places.
But as a result of these people being scattered
all over Europe,
Paul has been left alone.
And he's missing the company of these other believers.
Now, if we think about pastors today,
despite shepherding the flock,
despite being in church,
despite having their own families,
despite being surrounded by people all the time,
pastors can end up feeling isolated.
How can this be?
Well, perhaps they alone are laboring
for the gospel in their church.
Perhaps people are unaware of the demands
that they are experiencing.
Perhaps they are unaware of the sleepless nights
that the pastor has been having.
Perhaps they're unaware of the pastoral strains
that he is experiencing
and the burdens of caring for the flock.
And pastors who are feeling isolated
can begin to ask themselves the question,
does anybody truly understand what I'm having to do?
Does anybody really know about the burdens
that I'm having to carry?
If only I had someone laboring alongside me,
getting alongside me,
to share these burdens with me.
Pastors can feel isolated.
And when Paul is at his lowest ebb,
when his life is fading away,
when he's got maybe just weeks to live,
he is feeling isolated
and he's needing the support of his friends.
Pastors today can experience feelings
of isolation and loneliness
and they can take a real knock
when people walk away.
Pastors are in need of Christian companions
who will come alongside them
and who will stand with them.
And we're going to think a little bit more
about that in just a minute.
But the next thing we're going to think about
is the other thing that can crush
the spirit of the pastor
and that is opposition.
So if we look again
at verses 14 and 15
in our passage,
we see that Paul has faced
some serious opposition.
He explains that Alexander,
the metal worker,
did him a great deal of harm
and he strongly opposed
the gospel message.
Now we don't know exactly
what this harm looked like.
Maybe Alexander physically harmed Paul
or maybe Alexander played a key role
in Paul's recent arrest.
Maybe he gave evidence against Paul
as he stood trial in court.
Whatever harm Paul experienced
at the hands of Alexander,
Paul considers this man
a considerable threat to Timothy.
And Paul trusts that the Lord
will repay Alexander
for what he's done,
for the harm that he's inflicted
because he has opposed
the proclamation of the word.
This guy hasn't just come along
and just given Paul
a whack in the chin.
This guy has seriously opposed
the proclamation of the gospel.
And this is precisely
how Satan operates.
Satan denies the good news of Jesus
and he tries all that he can
from the Bible message
from being shared
and he seeks to harm
the servants of Jesus
who dedicate themselves
to preaching the word.
So what this guy is doing
is serious.
Might there be redemption
for this man, Alexander?
Well, we know that anything
is possible with the Lord.
Paul, after all,
was a type of Alexander.
If we remember his life,
he was going out there,
he was bashing Christians,
he was putting them in prison.
But the Lord visited him
and turned him around.
But Paul's instruction to Timothy
is not to reason with Alexander,
not to visit him,
not to explain the gospel to him.
Paul says,
be on your guard against him.
Watch your back, Timothy.
Avoid him altogether if you can.
It's quite possible
that Timothy might have to
cross this guy's path
on the way up to Rome.
But again, we ask the question,
why is Paul writing these things
to Timothy
and why has he left them
for us today?
Well, I think he wants
to remind Timothy
and all pastors like him
to be aware of opposition.
There are dangerous people
who will confront you
and harm you
and oppose your gospel message
and they will try all they can
to prevent it from being preached.
So be on your guard.
So a pastor's spirit can be crushed
when they experience isolation.
A pastor's spirit can be crushed
when they experience opposition.
And they can experience this opposition
outside the church.
We know that.
But they can also experience opposition
within the church as well.
There are people who are going to
strongly disagree
with what the pastor preaches.
There's going to be people
who are going to strongly deny
what the Bible says.
There are people who are going to
try and drag their pastors
through the mud
and write about them in the papers
and take them to court.
Often the opposition
from within the congregation
will be less obvious.
Nobody, after all,
sees the barbed emails
that the pastor receives
on a Monday morning.
Nobody will be aware
of the recent thing
that the pastor hasn't gotten right
in their eyes.
This opposition from within
can be very wearying
and it can leave the pastor
again questioning themselves.
Am I doing it right?
Am I actually preaching
what the word says?
So we've seen the ways
that the pastor's spirit
might be crushed.
But what is the hope
for battered pastors
like Paul and Timothy
and those ministering today?
Paul has two things
that will strengthen
the pastor's heart.
Christian companionship
and the Lord's presence
with him.
So Christian companionship
and we've already hinted
at this already
but we've skipped over
what Paul says
in the first verse
of this passage
and that is
a big request.
Paul wants Timothy
to come and visit him
before he dies.
In verse 9 we read
do your best
to come to me quickly.
Verse 21
do your best
to come before winter.
I might not make it
till then.
But this is not
the first time
that we've seen Paul
making this request.
All the way back
in verse 4
in chapter 1
Paul says
I long to see you
so that I might be
filled with joy.
Paul wants Timothy
to come and see him
so that he will be
filled with joy.
What can lift
the apostle's spirit
his faithful friend
coming to be with him
catching up
praying together
encouraging one another
face to face.
And in verse 11
we say that Paul
wants Mark
to come along too.
If we know
the story
of this guy Mark
we know that
he abandoned Paul
at one time
just like Demas.
he walked away
the heat was too hot
but they had reconciled.
Paul and Mark
had got back together again.
They'd gone on
some missionary journeys
together
and now Paul says
in verse 11
that he considers
this guy Mark
to be helpful
to him in his ministry.
How helpful it is
for the pastor
to be supported
by those who have
proven themselves
to be useful
and who are willing
to come alongside them
and labour
in this costly ministry.
So guys like Paul
even though they
ran a mile
in the past
they've proven
themselves faithful
they're willing now
to get alongside Paul
and to suffer
with him.
Bring Mark along too.
Then in verse 13
we see a couple
of very practical things.
Paul wants Timothy
to bring his cloak
and his scrolls
and especially
the parchments.
Why is this?
Well for starters
we thought already
this is no 21st century prison.
There's no central heating
in his cell.
Paul needs his thick cloak
to keep him warm
as winter approaches
and he needs something
to occupy his time.
Now during the week
when I'm working
I often go and work
in a cafe somewhere
and Costa Drive-Thru
down at Cameron Toll
is probably my favourite
place to work.
It's a great space
if you've ever
been there.
But as I've sat in there
whether it's been
Costa Drive-Thru
or Pret-Manger
just around the corner
or Cafe Nero
I've often seen
the retired folk
coming in through the door
and I've often been envious
as I've seen them
opening up their newspapers
and as they read
through their papers
and then as they get
to the puzzle section
at the end
and as they do
their Sudoku puzzles
I thought
oh man
what a way to live.
I love that.
But I wonder
will God be pleased
that when we get
to the end of our lives
as we go to be with him
will he be
pleased
to
see that we've become
masters of crosswords
and Sudoku puzzles.
God wants us
to use our years well.
Paul wants his scrolls
I think
so that he can meditate
on God's word.
he can use his time
reminding himself
of what God has said
in his word
and his parchments
so that he can write
so he can write letters
like 2 Timothy
so he can write his thoughts down
write down his prayers
maybe copy some of the things
that he's written up before.
Paul wanted to make
the best use of the time
that he had left
in prison.
So that's Christian companionship.
Paul wants Timothy
to come along
and spend some time with him
but the second thing
that we see
is the Lord's
strengthening presence.
This is the second thing
that's going to strengthen
the pastor
and Paul.
In verse 16
if we look there again
Paul shares a story.
This is a story
where Jesus himself
stood by Paul's side
and strengthened him
and enabled him
even in handcuffs
to preach the word.
And Paul says
in verse 16
At my first defense
no one came to my support
but everyone deserted me
may it not be held against them.
Paul is probably speaking
about his most recent arrest
and trial.
When Paul stood up
in the dock
after he'd been arrested
and he made his first defense
to the Roman court
he says that everybody
deserted him.
Again
he's been deserted.
Nobody stood with him.
Nobody defended his cause.
Nobody stood up and said
I'm with Paul.
What are you saying is true?
There was nobody
that stood up
and defended Paul.
Paul's support team
vanished
leaving him utterly alone
when he needed them the most.
Just in the same way
that Jesus' followers
all scattered
in the Garden of Gethsemane
when Jesus was arrested.
How crushing
must it have been
for Paul
when none of his friends
were willing
to stand with him.
But Paul continues
But the Lord
stood at my side
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.
Paul explains that
though everyone
deserted him
in this time of need
ever faithful
Jesus
stood with Paul
as he stood up
in the dock
and made his defense
Jesus
Jesus was there
strengthening him
taking away
his fear of man
and remarkably
Jesus used
this situation
to open the door
for Paul
to preach the word
to the masses.
Paul was sustained
so that the message
might be fully proclaimed
and all the Gentiles
might hear it.
Now
this guy Paul
he's been going around Europe
for probably 15-20 years
a lot of people
are going to know
who this guy is
and now he's in prison
and everybody
wants a piece of it.
It is likely
that there are
many hundreds of people
who are there
in the court
who want to witness
Paul's trial
and Jesus stood
with him
and he presented
Paul with a golden
opportunity
to fully
explain
the message
of the gospel
even in his handcuffs
to the masses.
Paul could have
used this opportunity
to save his own skin
and say
look
I didn't do it
trust me
I'm not
who you think I am
but he was prepared
out of season
to preach the word
to everyone
listening.
Now
when we think
of lions
if you imagine
a lion for a minute
I wonder
where your mind goes
maybe you're thinking
of the lion king
or Aslan
maybe you're thinking
of a cute
and cuddly version
of a lion
or maybe you think
about the sleepy lions
who lays around
all day in the sun
well
I think we often
forget
that lions
like all
carnivorous animals
are looking
for something
to devour
to rip to shreds
they are immensely
powerful beasts
and when they hunt
their prey
they are brutal
and if you've ever
seen a video
of a lion
on the hunt
you'll know
what I mean
I certainly
wouldn't want to meet
one of these lions
Paul says
that when Jesus
stood with him
at his defence
he wasn't just
presented with
an amazing opportunity
to preach the gospel
but he also says
that he was delivered
from the lion's mouth
Jesus delivered
Paul
from the schemes
of Satan
the one who prowls
around like a lion
looking for someone
to devour
and despite
standing before
Satan's representative
on earth
at that time
the evil
emperor Nero
who was doing
all that he could
to crush the Christians
and crush the gospel
Paul's life
was spared
for a little longer
enabling him
to write this letter
2nd Timothy
and to meet with
friends like
Timothy
one more time
so Paul
preserved him
and in light
of this
past tense
remarkable event
that Paul
is remembering
Paul now says
in verse 18
that in the same way
that the Lord
rescued him then
physically
Paul has complete
confidence
that Jesus
will rescue him
from every
spiritual attack
and safely
deliver him
not into physical
safety
but into his
heavenly kingdom
notice the difference
he's not going to be
spared from
physical suffering
but he's going to be
rescued into heaven
Paul is no fool
he knows he's going
to be killed
but as his death
gets closer
and closer
he can be confident
in Jesus'
ongoing
strengthening presence
with him
and the eventual
rescue
out of this
dark world
into Jesus'
marvelous
kingdom of light
and we see that
as Paul thinks
about that
glorious day
he is excitedly
anticipating that day
and we can see
that in the way
that he praises
the Lord Jesus
in verse 18
he says
to him
be glory
forever and ever
amen
Paul is so excited
about that day
when God will
rescue him
out of this world
and into his
heavenly kingdom
for the last time
we're going to ask
ourselves
why did Paul
write these things
to Timothy
well
so that Timothy
and all pastors
like him
can have complete
confidence
in Jesus'
strengthening presence
with them
to continue
preaching the word
and to have
complete confidence
in Jesus'
spiritual protection
from ferocious
lion-like attack
and complete confidence
in Jesus' promise
to rescue them
and take them home
and this is what
Paul speaks about
as he signs off
in verse 22
the last recorded
words of Paul
may the Lord
be with your spirit
may his grace
be with you
did you notice
the all
may the Lord
be with you all
may his grace
be with you all
I thought this letter
was just written
to Timothy
what does he mean
you all
who are these people
well I think this letter
was intended to be
shared with the church
so that we also
might know
what Jesus
intended to say
what Paul
rather intended
to say to Timothy
and so that we
might also know
that Jesus
is going to stand
with us
and he is going
to deliver us
too
from all of
sitting's evil schemes
and rescue us
into his glorious
kingdom
may his grace
be with you
may the Lord
be with your spirit
Paul writes
so as we draw
these things
to a close
we've
considered
Paul's
last few days
on earth
we thought about
the way that
he was deserted
we've seen the way
that he felt
isolated
we've seen the
opposition that he
faced
and we've drawn
parallels with
pastors and church
leaders in our
day today
now if we think
as we start to
apply these things
as we think about
our church pastor
or other pastors
and churches that we
know
or if we think about
church leadership
as we think about
our elders
we don't often know
the particular issues
that our church leaders
are dealing with
we don't know
the pastoral
burdens that they
are carrying
we maybe don't
recognize the
strain of
responsibility
that they feel
as they seek to
teach the word
faithfully
week in week out
we maybe don't
know what they're
experiencing
down to a T
but that aside
we need to
consider how
we can be a
support to our
leaders
people like
Paul
and here are some
of the ways
that we can
support them
I've just got a
couple of
a few bullet
points
some questions
to ask ourselves
can we be a
friend
to our
leaders
will we
champion them
or will we
shoot them down
are we willing
to labor
alongside
our church
leaders
are we willing
to get behind
them in their
central task
of preaching
the word
I think this
is the most
important one
will we commit
to praying
for our church
leaders
will we be
an encouragement
to them
can we tell
them what
we've been
learning
can we tell
them the ways
that God
has been
working
in your life
that can be
very encouraging
for our church
leaders
will you
align yourself
with them
will you be
willing to
share in
their suffering
for the sake
of the gospel
and then the
other thing
that we
acknowledge
is that
Jesus can
do a much
better job
than humans
can at
standing with
our leaders
and strengthening
them
so how can we
be pointing
our leaders
back to
Jesus
can we ask
God to
deliver our
leaders from
spiritual attack
again can we
be on our
knees praying
for our
leaders
leaders and
finally can we
ask God to
preserve our
leaders to
keep them
going so
that they can
faithfully
proclaim the
gospel and
to preach it
to the masses
so I'm going
to pray and
let's just be
thinking about
the ways that
we can be
getting behind
our church
leaders and
being a support
to them but
remembering that
Jesus can do a
much much better
job than we
can so
let's pray
our heavenly
father thank
you so so
much for
giving us
second
timothy
thank you for
the months that
we spent
looking at it
thank you for
this message
from paul to
this next
generation leader
timothy and
thank you for
the way that
you've preserved
your gospel all
the way down
through the
ages 2,000
years of
faithful passing
the gospel
baton from
one church
leader from
one generation
to the next
thank you for
all that we've
seen in second
timothy and for
this central
task that all
church leaders
must commit
themselves to
preaching the
word lord would
you help us to
get behind our
leaders as they
seek to commit
to that task
lord we
acknowledge that
we don't always
see what our
church leaders are
experiencing we
don't always know
the sense of
isolation that they
may face we
maybe don't know
the opposition
that they are
experiencing we
maybe don't see
the emails that
they are receiving
but lord would you
show us how we
can be a
christian companion
to our
leaders
filling them
with joy
would you show
us how we can
be an encouragement
to them
would you help us
to commit to
praying for them
and would you
help us to
remember that
you are truly
the one that can
strengthen them
we thank you
that the lord
jesus at that
time when paul
stood in the
dock he stood
with paul when
paul felt alone
and he strengthened
him and lord we
know that jesus
can do the same
today and lord
we thank you that
he jesus has
promised to be
with every single
one of us through
our lives and so
would you help
every one of us
to trust in
jesus's committed
faithful ever
present and
strengthening presence
with us help us
not to lean on
ourselves but to
lean on him
fully completely
so lord please
take all my
messy rambling
words and would
you press them
into our hearts
that the true
message that you
want to leave us
by your spirit
and would you
be with us in
the week to come
we thank you that
jesus will be there
with us and we
ask all these
things in his
name amen