1104. How Do We finish Strong? Pt. 1

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina form evangelist Jeremy Frazier, a dynamic Bible preacher with an emphasis on revival and evangelism will be preaching part one of the sermon from second Timothy three titled how do we finish strong will go to the book of second Timothy second Timothy chapter 3 is turned their what a passage to even read tonight because in one sense I told you last night that the focus is going more towards the gospel double edge sword. And tonight it really is to be geared more towards believers in your walk with him as I think about this the probably the passage were most familiar with Wood Beach found in chapter 4 and let's maybe read that little passage versus second Timothy chapter 4 and let's look at verse six, seven and eight, the apostle Paul before he's going off to see the apostle Paul really could say his last words to Timothy's son in the faith was a satanic in verse six he says where I am now ready to be offered in the time of my departure is at hand. I fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day not the only one to all them also that love his appearing. I think this passage there's a lot of things a good to my heart and my mind and one of those things is is a friend of mine named Tom Craig.

The truth is, I would not of really and then Stephen traveling on his team, and when been connected, probably with Alan Benson later in life, even to if it wasn't for this guy named Tom Craig Tom was my youth pastor I I grew up and I was of the troubled teen and and I remember one time in particular where where are in the middle of the like. The Sunday school. He said you for and he pulled it out in the middle of it, and brought us to his office and basically said if you don't come before the youth group and stand before them and asked their for their forgiveness.

You cannot be a part of the sheet.

Anymore you know Tom Cragg was that was the know me and talk about genuine and genuine people of EE love people.

He he love the Lord.

I mean, it was evident.

Tom was not I got I wouldn't say when you can hurt in preaching your disco like wow what a preacher necessarily just banded he just understood people when a counselor. When a friend when disciple maker actually was a youth pastor Calvary Baptist churches into the South Carolina for 15 years. He then he then steps down from that position goes to the church at Oak Ridge Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. At that point, when he lived that position. My wife and I connect with him and is and you know what I want to do exciton life. We can help.

I love to be a help to you. Always kind of felt like I love the start things are led to be a part of of those coming ministries and at the time became his youth pastor. We actually was doing grad school and I would we would drive from from Greenville, South Carolina on Friday after school stuff being done in grad school and I we would drive up. My wife is a nurse and yet we would she be off work and we would drive out to Oak Ridge we would live Tom and Kim Friday night Saturday night Sunday night at the service we would actually then drive back and I was his assistant pastor for two years. There in Oak Ridge is amazing because at some point in this avenue. He connected me with it again with Stephen that the fellowship in the friendship was amazing.

At some point years down the road and he they call me insane. Jeremy you should come back to Oak Ridge and in weight we have a special 10 year anniversary thing for him.

He doesn't really know about it and what you be the preacher and and and he thinks he's in a preacher working aflame that they make fun of little bit too from all over the world really is to come back to that special occasion.

And so it was an exhausting day when we we really celebrated the life of a faithful person and that is you as you fast-forward even some more years. Tom being on the board of our ministry along Stephen others as well.

But it's interesting that I remember at one point time Tom calls me up and was I was I was headed north to camp. I was up in upper Wisconsin driving the truck and trailer and as were making our way out there.

Tom calls and and as he calls it was interesting because I was 60%. Hey how are you doing, but he he he seemed to be not real excited.

Is it will germinate Saturday night and the reason: use because I had to tell you something before he tell my church tomorrow. What's going on. He said I went into the doctors this week and they have diagnosed me with pancreatic cancer now drive down the road exciton lasted about what is at Nina said forgive me I don't I don't know if I know my cancer stay well, you know, I did what what is what is pancreatic cancer mean and he said this, he said credit cancer is a death sentence. You don't live with pancreatic cancer battle this minute when a flight destined and I remember just like I did know what to think. Tom was honestly 880 I knew it like it if I recalled it to different people in ministry for some serious struggles. Let me Tom was the first one because I was had known him forever was my youth pastor. My pastor may connect with Steve. Steve would be another one I would call that I think about Tom. It is a relationship in MN and anyone who Tom knew him, that way I may need. He just was asked was so good with people he loved people and and I remember as he tells me some shocked by this I mean this is the same guy that that told me said Jeremy when I was his assistant pastor's agenda.

You understand how many times on a Monday. I considered quitting the ministry because of you as an out here might assist you present it was. It was money. But this point here is diagnosed three months to basically almost the day that he was diagnosed in May. Tom died 51 years old. That may seem old but I wouldn't say that's old but it's interesting how even through the summer, you think about his life and I think about the people that came to his funeral.

We actually were on the island of Guam at Harbison and doing ministry there and when we heard this cabinet focuses Jeremy on with the realtors that were a day ahead you can get an earlier flight back.

If you if you make it in.

You probably will make the funeral and honestly that's what we did. We've paid a lot of money and and and literally made it about two minutes before the funeral began from halfway around the world any crazy how the Lord allowed us to be there and it was all worth it and I looked around and so many people from all over the world really work were connected and were discipled by this man, Tom Cragg.

I would say that probably the greatest disciple or I think I never met, I think these guys you know that on the other buddy, my parenting would say the same thing as you think about this. I think about Tom's life. Not only did he start well but Tom finish strong and if I think about you.

Many of you when it comes it only this semester but I think about life units in one sentence easy to start well, but how do you really finish strong. That's the real question is really tonight to challenge you when it comes is what the word of God to affect you tonight. So that's my prayer as we would read the Scripture and we go through some of this, a goblet story you to to a greater love for him and love for his work, let me personally pray for you tonight as well. Dear God, I thank you for my friends. Thank you for this evening and all the things that you can do a hard life, but I know there are many in this room who are without Christ. I know that God to statistics would again say that but yet there there are many in here who know you have a true relationship with you or think about some of them are are are doing really well spiritually and and really pushing for why others may maybe see me just come hang on there some who may be really download low spiritually but I know God that you and your kindness that begin this good work in us. You will bring it to completion and so God I pray tonight will you sanctify we stir us when it comes to your word and got I asked would you allow this message to actually bring forth lifelong fruit that would just be something that happens in the past and I realized that yes, your word teaches the sanctification is progressive. I know that God but I also know there are times in life where there is a there are crisis moments where we really come to grips with some serious truth of the word and we begin to obey and respond to that and in real repentance and and and following you, as believers, so dear God, I asked bring us along or take us teach us tonight using a God in spite of me and God. Empower me now in Jesus name we pray in all God's people said Amen. What you look at chapter 3.

For just a moment, because in second Timothy an amazing book. In chapter 1 begins to encourage you only knew you read chapter 1 and you can't get away from the fact that the apostle Paul loves Timothy his son in the faith. This is his mentor. This is this for our modern-day influencer VEC's mentoring or discipling Timothy chapter 1, you read it you might feel like the Timothy is claiming is he's not very useful for the Lord maybe. I mean, but as you read chapter 1, I think we can get away from the fact that that that verse forgot about give us a spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind. Timothy is low, but you you have encouraging words from his dear friend who comes and just bombarded Sam with all this encouragement.

Chapter 2 Jamuna chapter 2, you can't get away from the factor to go in and make disciples to go and teach others also eat fine the faithful invest in the faithful Timothy using the baton even passing me at chapter 3. I would say chapter 3 if you were to highlight this and what is it mean and can overall. Looking at it I would look at this passage and you see the truth of what it means and what real ministry is he. He tells him it's going to be rough and when I read this passage to you. You will see exactly were reading this and this is exactly where we live.

Amazing thousands of years ago and get the timelessness of the Scriptures. Look at this closely in chapter 3, verse one. What is he say he says this know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. Is talk about how I would get really, really bad.

Look at verse two for men shall be lovers of their own selves, coverages, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers in continent years despise those that are good traders heading high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away as he begins to describe this describe even the false teachers and in verse six and now they creep animatedly. They think they go after people and pray on people. The immorality of the false teachers as you go even further. It's amazing you get this. And then there are nine teen sins listed and actually every one of the sins point back to one major sin is a sin of pride, the sin of selfishness and self-centeredness that so effectively said morning to be a time within a culture where everyone is all about self. Does that sound familiar mean everything when you consider this a click click social media so often is just self-centered. Everyone want a name for themselves and then when you can't be seated like the despair of mankind and you look at this and I wish I would say this in the church so influences the culture, but so often it's the other way. The culture influences the church and were bombarded this way. I think those are true believers were seen dear God, help me deliver me from this I want to live this way. I want to live within my sin.

You delivered me got deliver me every day. Sanctify me as you go further renames all these different sins shown the reality of of real ministry in verse 13 he says this but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

It's going to get in real bad Timothy Stella. I don't want to be the truth. I knew I liked so often articles we are lie after lie after lie. I would rather person tell me the hard truth and that this is the apostle Paul in love, speaking the hard truth and he still this is the way to be.

It's really, really, really bad.

This could be a downgrade in the culture as can be an uprising and false teachers more. All teachers and this was it look like but then he turned to look at verse 14 how encouraging verse 14 but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and have been assured of, knowing if you know has learned them, squeezing think about this Timothy what was taught to you who taught you those things that actually modeled an example of this in your life. You could say the church is filled with hypocrites, but I think we would all think we all say you know what, but not everybody. Some of you have had genuine believers in your life who really have shown grace and love and model Christ to you and he's pointing back to this and encouraging him when it comes this knowing of now is learned in verse 15 and that from a child that was known the holy Scriptures are able to make the wise and to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus using Timothy, don't you realize the Scriptures remember what they've done.

They brought you have faith in Christ reimburse you into the family of God. You responded to the Scriptures by faith is I don't want my sin that I want Christ that would happen to him, even from a child to begin to learn the Scriptures to get it brought into faith.

But notice this verse 16 all Scripture… Mean the totality of all the Bible all Scripture is given by inspiration that I wasn't saying it's losing its God breathed, God breathed out ingrained into existence. God is the true author of Scripture. And yes, he did use mankind. We know that hell sure enough it wasn't by man's own private interpretation or different.

If an idea that he somehow did this and thought of one day, while the right Scripture but God views the holy men of God he carried him along as they wrote with but he did this, and yet you notice all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and notices, and is profitable for doctrine, doctrine means the truth that you should believe, for reproof, I mean that that's that's showing you where you've gone wrong and are in error correction how to get right in your spiritual life and for instruction in righteousness, only to get right but had actually stay right it's the Scriptures that do this to you that the man of God may be perfect and immature and thoroughly persons all good works in one sent using what is what is Paul here. What is he saying the person who is going to be a true influencer in life is to make a significant impact in this world is a person who is constantly going back to the source of Scripture.

It's a person who is rooted and grounded in the Bible as you begin to consider this and what God's Word does verse to the family of God.

He doesn't leave you there. But God through his spirit and through his word continues to work on you and immature you to make you more like him and he same Timothy this is what this is what is save you but this is also what sanctifies you go back to the Scriptures you think about this person who source in life is the word if you begin to consider throughout history who are the people who made a significant impact in this world there is one common denominator. It's a person. Yes, he was saved by God's grace and yet continued in his grace in the word. They want people committed to the Bible in their spiritual life.

You could say these are people have a deep rooted hunger and passion for the word of God, you, and we talked about it with what the Bible but what about you to some of you when it comes to academics academics takes first place. So we when it comes to sports sports.

It takes first place when it comes to your friends and the people to hang out you get you an opportunity when you need to go with people.

Scripture takes a backseat gender. Some of you here tonight who I know who are truly in Christ and kindness tell you this, that if you if you would come before God in a humble way every day to say dear God speak to me work in my life.

We set aside time and have a quiet place that you go to and you take the word of God and you cry out to God I tell people before you read the Bible, pray like the psalmist prayed open my eyes under the old wonderful things in your law. The psalmist is praying this how the healing may you consider that the psalmist is crying out God stir my heart.it's like God and looming me to read the Bible as you read the Bible person. It's almost like you read that passage before, but for some reason well just come July. God is dealing with you. For me this didn't seem to happen in my spiritual life until the age of 17 beta 17. I think what would really happen to me is is is you know the Scripture tells you as newborn babes, this is a command desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby, but often we forget the verse in front of it, which talks about removing said the age of 17 my own heart remembers God was breaking me of a difference into my life by just clicking clean before God and I just want to walk with God in the genuine way I hated innocence. The Hippocratic I mean I could point out I and on a group in Academy. I was I was thinking a Brat big time and and yet in the midst of that. It's interesting how God certainly disturbed me and my senior year of high school. I finally said you don't spend time with God every day by his grace, and so for me what I did as I exited something really practical. I would I would actually get up in the morning I would get over it I would get ready for school listings and I would put like a devotional pilot make my bed.

I like to put my devotion on my bed experiencing eyes open on my at my bed on my pillow and and what it was, as this is because I would go throughout school I would have sworn to have all kinds of things and working on that stuff but would come back and I would study and get things ready and I would and I would go back to the where I'm get in bed and I would see my Bible there was a practical reminder me. Don't put your head on the pillow to spend time with God. For me it was it was evening thing I would I would read my Bible at night. Now there were times where I think about exam week or things where you you've procrastinated some in your stay up till two or whatever the morning study and I was attempted but anyways I you say that I'm studying and and and then it would be like 8 AM exam and so at that point in time. You know I many times I would come home and and I would of I did St. say not studied and I would look at the Bible before the end of the on a limited I would actually ask myself this question. What I love more sleep God. Do you realize that you will find time to do everything you really want to do some of you you you know you want like the cabal you will find time, you name I know I know some I drive by, but I interesting.

If you really long to do something he will do it and then you consider this if you say why don't have time to you understand my major yell I nuclear engineering or something to eat. Okay, but I would say to you later.

Second, that it's interesting that you find time for that I could you imagine say that to a boss that like in the workplace. Okay, please don't do this. Is this idea really help for life. Okay, if you're in the workplace. Don't say to your boss, how I would've been here the last three days at work. I couldn't I just couldn't find the time. I been so busy is the nose. I will don't worry, you have plenty of time, you're fired. You consider this I go when you look at people. This is the number one thing even when what I think about people traveling you've heard and often proceed to hear it again and again and again to repeat himself and I'm not afraid my boss anymore. There's three rules with These from Steve Cuisinart team at the ruler one read your Bible every day.

Your this before. Remember to pray every day. Number three. Don't do anything stupid and we would always assess the questionable speed.

How do we know if we do something stupid. If they don't worry I'll tell you that you and Sadie will tell you, but I think about that.

I do you know that that is so profound that a personal walk with God on a consistent basis will I consider this the people that we long to see because you notice when God works in you.

Once the overflow then he works through you if you continue to let God work in you and your constantly humbling yourself daily for God. God speak to me in working in me. It's amazing what God will do through you, but I'm amazing how many people graduated they look good on a resume, and even and maybe even in a spiritual come about major of some sort. I don't know but then you ask about their personal walk if it's also thing is Chapel is a personal time if it's not, so I look at this insane usually used of God who is going to finish strong. This can make an impact the person who's constantly going back to the source of Scripture is this you number two notices number two I would say look at chapter 4 verse one to chapter 4 verse one.

There's this shift. The apostle Paul gives because the other, he realizes with earlier in chapter 1 he says Jesus to Timothy Timothy, my dearly beloved son see how this is warmth is welcome is hugging on an idea you know you I long to see the tears you know in the last meeting we departed. It's a good just great friends when you consider this think about. Look at chapter 4 verse one. He doesn't say my dearly beloved son know he looks at his his son in the faith. And now he's a military commander and he says to him, I charge the Timothy.

This is so different now that the way speaking to him but he said he's challenging my charge. The pieces therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead is appearing his and his kingdom thing about this door. The quick and the dead. The ideas of living and the dead. All people will stand before God. Those who are living in Christ, they will stand before God.

We talked about this last night. I don't repeat the message with the reality we all have a point with dad. We all have an appointment with God as you consider this you say and I'm charging you Timothy you stand before God for all these things. This is so, so serious, would you say number one is yes, you must go back to the source of Scripture, but number two. You must get serious about the coming judgment any person is greatly used of God is a person who, in an longing to be with Jesus knows that God has you here for a purpose.

There's not a mistake, did you think I did make a mistake by having you here at Bob Jones this semester.

In the midst of everything that here is God's divine plan who has viewed here. And yet, for a very specific purpose, and I really believe that many of you can can really grow in your searchlight and thrive in your search like you're a great environment to do that many people in this room and that was exactly something they desire the best for you spiritually want to see you mature and move forward but not everybody you realize that you always have a wrong crowd, even among the good ground but you look here.

He's challenging and you you could say that this is a constant, a sobering reminder of the sovereign Lord give an account of this. I think this is such a serious calling that God is talking to him about three through the apostle Paul, Timothy, this is so serious. That's why like us. As one author put simply don't waste your life. Don't waste your life. We have even one life, you know, like a cat with nine lives and can I tell you they really don't and I'm glad that will account but when I think about this I'm going. Here's God you got this one life and and and you might you might not live to be 90 so so why not live each day. In light of eternity and live fully for him and hold nothing back even holding things back in your searchlight for me that was that wicked thinking maybe. Maybe in the future will do this again Considering the times distant and some significant evil and and and I am sitting there and I'm thinking in the back of my mind when am I gonna live for the Lord will heat you. My regret is why my way with the truth is, I think about think of that is amazing. Why would I be that bullheaded what one would live just myself earlier because not experience in this life of Christ and with Christ in a walk with the Lord and the joys of the beauty of Christ really is. I mean it's like it like that's what David said I rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell the tents of wickedness. He understood what was like something even menial, and yet be full of of of grace and glory from God, to walk with God in a genuine way.

Unfortunately, that's all the time we have for today's sermon titled how do we finish strong. Be sure to listen tomorrow is will hear the conclusion of the sermon from evangelist Jeremy Frazier preached from the Bob Jones University Chapel platform