The Integrity of Finishing Well, Part 1

From the beginning of the new year. Until now, Chuck Swindoll has been delivering a brand-new teaching series intended to help us face the pressing challenges 20, 22, it's called walking with integrity in times of adversity today on Insight for living will be listening to his 12th and final installment message that will conclude on tomorrow's program. We demonstrate our complete trust in God. During the final season of life for anyone who wishes to leave a lasting legacy represents a message on the integrity of finishing well for the last several weeks we have been giving attention to the series called walking with integrity through times of adversity. Last time we talked about the integrity of pressing all is continuing on day after day, week, month after month from one year to the next. I took the time to put together some thoughts last week on was included in pressing on.

I promised I would bring it back to you this week. List some of it slipped away in the time that has passed what's included in pressing on. I suggest at least five things. First, you're in your life of distractions in order to press on and you spend your time and energy on essentials as you press on, then your focus your attention on goals and priorities as a part of pressing all you discipline yourself to this day added in order to finish well and you set your mind to endure any test any trial does seem pretty simple to write down but they are required assignment when you apply them to everyday life, as we must from one day to the next. Paul did that no better example in the Scriptures than in the great apostle has from the time of his conversion on the road to Damascus all the way to the dungeon enrollment. He was pressing on today were looking at the integrity of finishing well, which again he certainly did. As a habit of his life, not just toward the end, but throughout his life, he worked toward the finishing point in doing it with with gusto with energy with great anticipation, looking at chapter 4 of second Timothy, these are his final written words before he died before his life was taken so they become extremely important words to all of us. We look back on those we have lost and we in many ways.

Wish we had listen more closely to their last words which are often the best words they ever share of think of that as we look at second Timothy four verses five through 18, but you should keep a clear mind in every situation.

Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord work at telling others the good news and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. As for me, my life is already been poured out as an offering to God the time of my death is near. I fought the good fight, I finished the Reese and I remain faithful and now the prize awaits me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge would give me on the day of his return in the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. Timothy, please come as soon as you can. Demos has deserted me because he loves the things of his life and is gone to Thessalonica christens is going to Galatia, Titus is gone to Dalmatia only Luke is with me.

Bring Mark with you when you come for he will be helpful to me in my ministry I sent to Caicos to Ephesus, when you, be sure to bring the quote I left with purpose and control as also bring my books and especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm but the Lord will judge him for what he is done. Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said the first time I was brought before the judge. No one came with me.

Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against the but the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the good news in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear and he rescued me from certain death. Yes.

And the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever.

Amen.

You're listening to Insight for living to search the Scriptures with Chuck Swindoll.

Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures. Studies by going to Insight world.or/studies Chuck titled his message the integrity of finishing well.

The final words of Paul to Timothy should be read on our knees.

In fact, we should agreed to his touching words slowly and allowed and I would add often remembering these are his final words which should be treated as sacred words for they are truly that it also helps to remember where they were written. He was in a cold dark stone dungeon damp and depressing. The only light into that dungeon came from up a whole above him, covered with a rusty great people walk by, not even thinking there was anything below them in this cramped, dingy, filthy area where rats ran free fed and bread in a place like this dark cave.

Paul lived his last few hours, days seems amazing, doesn't it.

A life lived so well a life. It finished so strong would be in this hole in the ground, known today as the member time in dungeon when you visit there. You walk down a narrow role tightly curved spiral staircase to the base.

The places black with age and is still stinks. There must've been for Paul and open bucket where he would urinate and defecate, the states must've been terrible. How long he stayed there were not told, but the inevitable would soon be heard.

The dull pounding of the boots of Roman soldiers forming the execution squad that would take him to the place where his head would be severed from his shoulders. One of the squad would be carrying the acts, but none of this depressed Paul. Interestingly, none of it caused him fear you read nothing of completing or blaming or bitterness or lack of forgiveness. As you read through this final words you read of his life sort of passing and review Pastor Kent Hughes does a good job summarizing it all with these words. It was there he surveys his life, his conversion, and then the kaleidoscope of sermons he preached shipwrecks confrontations deliverances the stoning, the beatings and the victories.

His conscience is absolutely clear. There is no guilt, no weight of unresolved sins nothing to confess he is been true to the gospel and his calling.

He was not sinless, but he was blameless and he was faithful. Paul wrote as he waited for the arrival of the squad and are so grateful that he did write for in these few words only four chapters in our English Bible, only 83 verses he captures the essence of what is on a man's heart at the end of his duties having live the life he lived. The letter begins with a tender expression to my dear son Timothy. Perhaps he thought of them is the only son he would ever have in those years they had been together in the places they had gone the things they had seen and endured together. He saved his best words for his final hours he would press on all the way to his death. Of special interest in this letter is the final chapter, I believe it is becoming my favorite chapter in all the Scriptures. It's dripping with emotions. Of course he's at the end. Looking back, don't you wish you had had a pen and paper in hand is your stood alongside the one you loved and lost to write down what they said how you felt the emotions of the moment Paul is finishing well in the leaves. These words for Timothy to ponder he was soon press this little bit of parchment into Luke's hands and Sissy see that this gets to to Ephesus so Timothy can read it. I've often pondered what Timothy must've done when Luke handed him this little scroll II think you must've burst into tears when he saw my dear son, knowing they came from the one who had meant so much to him during his life. Everything starts in this fourth chapter with a solid charge. Paul is almost nothing of his passion. I solemnly charge you. I urge you in the presence of God in Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his kingdom. So he's charging young temper. The younger Timothy to step into the end of the ranks, without hesitation, without reluctance, I charge you in the name of the living God to move into your ministry.

I got a call this these first five verses the ministers job profile doesn't get better than these words, the following charges followed by command and in the command. There are several parts that go with the command but the command is familiar to to all of us can work some dialogue on priests.

The word Timothy preach it all back. Stand strong in it. Preach the word, be prepared whether the time is favorable or not patiently correct review and encourage the people with good teaching. I love that I often think of that is Sunday mornings. Arrive and I think of my responsibility. This is for all who handled the Scriptures. This is a just for Timothy's been applicable down through the centuries. How much strength is been gleaned by those of us who step into appropriate and holds forth or stand before body of people in whatever capacity priests. The word declare the truth of God.

Don't fall back on your opinions or your ideas, your feelings. No one ever said it better than Walter Kaiser in his book, revive us again, this is Lewis penetrating expressions. He writes too often the Bible is little more than a book of epigrammatic saving or a springboard that gives us a rallying point around which to base our editorials before we get the audacious idea that the God would bless our opinions and judgments who wants to hear another point of view as an excuse for a Bible study is that a great question who said God would bless our stories are ramblings on the general area announced by the text. Surely this is a major reason why the famine of the word continues in massive proportions. In most places in North America. Surely this is why the hunger for the teaching and proclamation of God's word continues to grow year after year after year. Men and women cannot live by ideas alone.

No matter how eloquently they are stated but solely by a patient reading an explanation of all Scripture line after line paragraph after paragraph chapter after chapter book after book.

Where are such interpreters to be followed and where are there teachers those are timeless words from Dr. Kaiser. After Paul's powerful and challenging charge.

He moves into a very honest appraisal of his time and you will our time. He says in verse three. This is the reason you must do what I've commanded a time is coming. We could see the day, the time has come when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching that the that they will they will follow after their own desires and will and they will look for teachers who will who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths is that true to what I want to hear. Tell me what I need to hear dumb it down. Let's have fun here Paul writes to Timothy in all seriousness, this charge that is timeless as it is true wherever you live wherever you move whatever may be your circumstance. Look for places where you can find the word of God ought faithfully. That's the place to link up to just go with your denomination or tradition. Our goal because your family's been going there all their lives. Seek the truth seeking one who is the guts of the temerity to deliver it and to deliver it Sunday after Sunday because apart from it, you will be embracing nonsense and myths. You will only hear silly little stories and funny little skits you need.

The truth, and so to why we grow from the truth. It's like verbal and written nourishment to our soul is what holds your together when the bottom drops out of your life is what you fall back on when the one you love so dearly.S it is what you need when you're alone in your imagination plays tricks on you or when you're tempted and no one is around to know if you fall, the truth will hold you close the one to reset the young Timothy preach it, Harold. It make it known. Don't stop when I leave this earth.

Timothy must've felt a little chill up his back.

Realizing that the torch was now being passed to him. He says to Timothy directly in verse verse five.

You should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. That's that's part of it, suffering only manager on the right track will hold back from telling others the good news and fulfill your ministry in every way carry the gospel to the lost teach the truth to the saved never apologize for either suddenly it becomes personal when you're at the very end. Your your thoughts turn to life as it really has been, as it does for Paul listen as it passes and review. As for me, verse, verse six as for me by my life is already been poured out as an offering to God the time of my death. It's it's it's a new movement it's mere those soldiers will come.

It was in 1844 the James Russell Lowell wrote words we still quote truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne that scaffold sways the future and in the dim unknown stands God within the shadow keeping watch above is wicked. The role was on the throne, or was he God is enthroned. God is in charge. God is sovereign is fascinating to consider the context of Paul's letter was written.

Christians were feeling immense pressure from Rome, and Paul reminded Timothy R. God is still on the throne you're listening to a message from Chuck Swindoll about the integrity of finishing well this is insight for living. To learn more about this ministry.

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Timothy received from the aging apostle must've called to spirit, but his reassuring words apply to all of us. We too can take refuge under God's watchful eye. Along those lines all remind you Chuck is written the daily devotional that provides the same kind of biblical comfort and encouragement is called wisdom for the way in this robust book contains a chapter for every single day of the year. Think of all the competing voices you hear throughout an average day from daily news sources to the constant stream of trivial information online will this devotional wisdom for the way will guide your thoughts and help you overcome the chaos and confusion of human opinion and is available for purchase when you call us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.or/offer thanks. Remembering that these daily visits with Chuck or me possible for your voluntary donations. You're the one who fuels insight for living. And when you give your the one who delivers hope and encouragement. The people who rely on this daily program like one of your fellow listeners, who left a comment that read you can understand how much I needed to hear this message today and another wrote this. I'm listening to the program in the hospital suffering greatly in your sermon is very helpful with thanks for making these moments possible to give a contribution today go online to insight.org/donate or call us listening in the United States dial one 807 seven 288 Wendell talks about the integrity of the nation. Well Tuesday on insight for living. The preceding message the integrity of finishing well was copyrighted in 2021 and 2022 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2022 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited