1105. How Do We finish Strong? Pt. 2

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina daily platform evangelist Jeremy Frazier, a dynamic Bible preacher with an emphasis on revival in evangelism will be continuing yesterday's sermon from second Timothy three titled how do we finish strong.

When you look at first till you have this laid out before us in verse two. It he has this command to preach the word or but what's interesting is this is all true believers in one sense are called to preach the word, but there are some of you were God will specifically place his hand on you where vocationally you will be a preacher and maybe some of you even other circumstances right now.

Maybe there are some of you honestly are are battling against us that was me I was battling against the Macau could use me in there maybe some of you may be either in a in a wrong Manger right now that you're enrolled in, and that's not where you should be Edwards got called into the ministry because we consider our world today. Now more than ever there. So there is a desperate need for the preaching of the word. One clear sign of the judgment on a culture is when you when you start running out of preachers who preach the word, so I look at this I would say you must be committed to well to preach the word and that's the Timothy but you must also innocently committed to the preaching of the word and actually every true believer who longs to walk and living love love the Lord there people who really long for the preaching of the word. Notice what this is because it deals with our culture watched closely.

Verse two preach the word and notice he doesn't say this a Timothy yes I'm really really good opinions preach the word. It's a Caruso incentive Harold and Al that that's that's that's why you… Sometimes get loud and preaching even to having sometimes you… People but I'm also not saying hey maybe kinda sorta if you, like would want to maybe sorta give your life to Jesus tries sorta maybe no. I'm saying hey, Jesus is calling you to salvation. So repent and believe the gospel. It is a declaring of the truth like that Harold is declaring this and knows what he says preach the word and we would call that I would say within our code within our realm. We call this expository preaching that way because we long for that kind of preaching Edwards preacher don't give me your opinion getting what the Bible says, but when I think about this. This is almost a rarity in our culture you get all kinds of preaching and eating it your best life now and how to become a better year doing big smiles and you're just a good person pass yourself on the back you to get that kind of preaching, but I think all of us realize there's a it is that it's disingenuous it it's missing something but I think about this as well and I go this is this is powerful stuff, preach the word, 11 semester of the traveling I remember being very just exhausted.

It was a springtime.

We just finished off with with yearly transition to more of a summer kind of a ministry teams up with us in the summer and so I wouldn't. I remember one time we went to church on the site was in Wisconsin and that the leader there is a lot of churches in Wisconsin so we just went to visit. It was like Mother's Day as Wheatley sat there and listen. The guy opened up and he read the play, he prayed that when I was daddy. He read the passage now that was good. And then after that I don't.

We never went to the Bible again at all. You literally couldn't close the Bible. The points were not anti-Bible the points he gave her for five points about a good mother is Mother's Day and I would also say this lesson, you can have bad days of preaching and and that happens it's on my fault the guy that sentiment but I'm I was to the point where he could've given that same address you could call it to a community group from others at a community center there. Just it was just was in the Bible and I remember as we pulled away in the truck and the kids would come talk in the back. I look to my wife. I said Misha I said this is exactly why think some people actually even the fundamental world because where's the Bible was the Bible that same summer as we were working with one of the cans we work attended one summer, the Raven is this you know this this this time where their training the counselors in this this guy gets up and training, and it's an evening service and is close to me meant to really challenges Stephanie he talks about the number one book. The book that changed his life and it was in the Bible. Now, I guarantee if I would Preston he would say no to the Bible.

That's number one book in the book he was saying was not a bad book but it's like here's the premise of the book here. The points of the book and his message consistent this way said, I believe this because number one is biblical. I believe this because number two it's like practical number three it's like helpful and I'm thinking that's that's bad book report and yet this guy would probably mock fundamental people in that interesting wheel of the culture right now where you consider that the true proclamation of the word for expository preacher people try to draw out what does the Bible say it's almost missing and notice what he says here he says preach the word. Be instant in season and out of season. Okay, that means that you're always ready.

You're always on duty. Here you ready to preach the word at all times. It's like whether you feel like it or not Timothy preach the word whether the listeners want to hear it or not, the matter Timothy give them the word.

Now I want to ask questions. Each one of your have you ever woken up on a Sunday morning and not really felt like going to church. Be honest. Emily never woke up on a Sunday morning and never really didn't look like going to church with who the old town. If you have ever not only going to chapel that should be everybody okay but I would say this chapels, not an option settled. I will pull in chapel when I was in this town. If you didn't feel like going to church but you decided to go anyway and as you went God begin to work in your heart and you left church that day thanking the Lord and I'm so glad I went because God stir my heart. It was a helpful message for me today and I almost didn't go how do you have ever done that before you think everybody and you consider this a note this is the idea. It's not always convenient and you're not always maybe wanting to do this but the truth is we don't live on her feelings. We live by faith, we live by truth of the feelings follow that and so therefore as I think about many of you here you've grown up and I could feel this way. We just don't do it and I am saying that I know actually because the Bible being preached it's convenient or not you be committed to this, we commit to the hearing of this is even further because he tells them to to be instant in season and out of season.

He tells them to reproduce what that means to to convince or to prove one wrong deals with false doctrine and as a preacher preaches he must do this you must reprove people he actually must read review people. That's the correct and that's correct. Misbehavior deals with the heart of the root of the problem. I remember years ago preacher in Denver saying this to me.

He said you know what I find it very very difficult to find preachers that may be the preach for youth that will even preach against sin. But you can never come to Christ if you never hear preaching on sin because what you been saved from you. Consider this, and yet you look at this deals with this it's only reproving and rebuking, then you're missing something because he doesn't even for leases but exhort them. What is that mean for me to encourage kids if they come from the Greek word parent allow the ideas to come alongside the Holy Spirit comes alongside and yet this is this exhortation that he does. And that's true preaching because he maybe seen the Internet which I've seen this before one guys get there and he's filleting his people are not like oh it's funny at first, like the sound preach everybody knowing you lose your time and money and you just want all and you laugh at first, until you realize, wincing. This is such a realtor to the real pastor and that's awful. I hope that some of you may be feeling Jimmy or stop on my toes but I hope it's not all that way.

I hope you realize wait a second I'm saying these truths to encourage you because you can walk with the Lord because if you have the spirit in you. You know it he's begun networking you Hillebrand to completion.

I look at that. I'm so encouraging God is not through with me yet. Praise God, you look at this as encouragement that he tells you to do as a preacher to preach the word and I think about this more and more in our culture you see this shifting away. Notice first three closely as you do this, remember verse two that you do this agitation with all long-suffering and doctrine. That's the idea, patiently putting up with people and keep giving them the doctrine. Aren't you thankful for faithful people in your life you Giving you the truth, there were sometimes traveling with Steve work. Honestly, I it was very difficult there.

There were there were it was the greatest on my life at the worst time in my life.you know, just, and yet sometimes with a harsh innocence and harsh I would say the true con confrontations that I needed.

I struggled initially at times and you don't God but God used a faithful preacher to point me to truth and people who love me, to help me see things in my own spiritual life that truly needed to change. Those are your real friends missing patiently put up with people I think about that statement with a lot of people to know does it actually changes you as an owner where God uses God uses some of these men to to really disciple you and help you but yet actually even in turn is God's working through them. He's working in them to do as well. But look at this even further he says that his first three for the time will come, was a saying this will be a season or an epic.

It will, and it says this newcomer will when they will not endure sound doctrine and want to hear sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, their their own desires and sinful desires.

They shall keep to themselves teachers.

They want a lot of teachers they have itching ears think it's like a dog. We scratch its ears and you walk away from it and wanted to do it and it walks towards his scratch is more the case following you around because it loves that. It's like it. It's like people your people who have always have an itch to hear something new. It's a new fad that is it is to believe that but honestly so often. If you been a Christian for even a while. There's a lot of always new things. It's reminders of the old things and the things we must do, but you consider this as you as you think about your people who just want to be committed anywhere and maybe some of you like, you know you can't try this and try this but but where's the commitment level but you look at this closely. Notice what people do they have an itch to hear something. In this way, verse four and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. They would rather hear a really good story. While that was an amazing message really was amazing man that story they had me in tears. That was powerful when the last time you heard a person say wow what a powerful message because the word of God just struck me to the core you consider this and this is our world that we think people who don't want to hear sound doctrine that they don't have that they desire. Many teachers they want to hear what pleases them they would rather listen to even fables are good stories and drama and some of you are me by entering a man that's cool, that's me and my churches school there.

Some churches even with the covert stuff I think about this in the summer not knowing what's going on.

They were mega churches.

There were some mega churches literally saying this or not, can even meet until after the new year is the summer, they had no clue what would happen in an honest this churches probably should disclose their doors because many of them were not real churches to really get people to work and I wouldn't challenge if this is a radical season. This is a weird season, but be committed to the preaching of the word as you leave your love that even if the past. Always we hear less and get to Greenville.

The truth is there's there's needs here in Greenville. Don't get me wrong, but get out and let God use you all of the world and their people who've taken at the heart, and you look at this and are people committed to this masses are you committed to the to the word of God because kindliness is is is many people they said as he gently people can handle more than 20 minutes she was preaching the church and an unknown as long preacher in case I die.

And II wish I could change and I try to time but I was in a church and I wasn't preaching only within a long message for me it wasn't.

It was that was in the sky afterwards comes means is Jeremy. He says if you can't say what you say 30 minutes.

The basin is sound quiet and I might owe like you're serious, aren't you he said you and the reason I was say that is because there were two men grown men before him, that can meet with tears in her eyes talk about God's doing is like a joke because the guys again say that as a way to second that unites I feel bad for the American culture is what you mean us because we got a mission field, and if you're if you preach an hour there go and you try to stop you stopping for you so you go on like what is her name and mission field for pennies like like I said Sir, let me ask you question do you do you actually never watch sports. Could you imagine your favorite football team plan and you even pay big time box to build the stadium and it's open okay this is imaginary right now to so you know and you say if they're not done in 30 minutes on out here know they going to overtime and you you think he could you imagine saying to a teacher at school and teacher got down what you're saying in the 30 messages sit down, shut up.

I do you know that nothing can incident a minute.

It crosses your mind. You never say that you, why are we so weak in this area.

You really disturbed me. I forgot to hold my life I was. I was now kind of hungry for Scripture.

What disturbed me is I would go to chapel and is the preacher's, seemingly concluding year everything you put away your going if you're really listening to the message are you got on everybody just turned off.

God is speaking to you and your putting everything away. You sooner mean we we live in a culture where we should hunger for more preaching, which we should look at some of you through your phone there so many ways that we can hear even more preaching, listening to message name instead of running listen. He's immensely solicitous of messages exterior heart. God speak to make. I work him into even publicly doing corporately blasted preacher. Could you imagine that what he really prayed today for chapel dear God work in that preacher to work in their heart for God's term Easter other people would transform the way you listen to chapel chapel may be or become your favorite class but look at this I say, here's a season where people don't want that. So he challenges Timothy Aziz is closing down.

He says in verse five, but watch thou in all things was that mean for me to be alert to the ideas again. This is free from any common toxicants or be sober Timothy watch on all things in your afflictions.

He's is encouraging to the Christian life is tough. It's like your soldier what you expect could you imagine sign up and you want to go to go to military so often you have been Not mean nothing is just getting the gun already work that way. You need the training you need the discipline you need experience. Paul tells Timothy took Timothy join in with me when it comes to suffering because because true people go through hard times.

I remember even the even Tom Greg, my mentor and friend. I you he said to me are never wanting to interview for a class study for the ministry here at this interview with him. I sent anyone the question. I just happen. Asking was as what's up what's one of your greatest fears and he said people greatly used of God.

Every person they go through great trials is I'm not really concerned as much about me, but I think about my wife. I think about my three girls prophetic gels amazing as he passes away. God's house so worked in the lives of that family just to see the blessing of God upon each one of them and how God help them through what an awful difficult situation and it is is ritually a sense, bless them, as they been faithful to the Lord. I remember him long ago you seek Amy some marital premarital advices in Jeremy when you married don't just marry anyone but Mary, you know that I did praise God that I would encourage you the same way marry someone who challenges junior spiritual life who walks with Jesus, don't marry a ministry. Ladies, please don't do that you running around my neck is a major loser.

Maybe I can help them.

You watched all things you endure afflictions you do the work of an evangelist and I like that one. What was he saying he's not a single plant churches necessarily easiness go evangelistic Timothy try to reach people with the gospel. When you think about our culture right now, don't get sidetracked on all the political stuff, a little happening. There are people dying and going to hell when the Saints back in the day maybe still happens with it. Was this Dr. Bob, they would say the most sobering reality in the world today is that he would stop and we all say people are dying and going to hell today would reminder some of you have roommates who are on their way to hell.

Wake up God use use story be do this work of an evangelist to reach the people with the gospel and deliver the gospel when the greatest things you'll ever do is is is get involved in something of a an evangelistic ministry or maybe start one but but that you are costly seeking to share the gospel that will transform your life. I would never times going to downtown Reno sucked on here.

I think the buck on the Bible Belt going try to talk to people that Christ would do this faithfully in its turn our hearts cannot come back on fire man I can't believe your God save that person would do something when you actually share the gospel. It's do the work of the vans make full proof of your ministry was that mean the ideas to give full measure to bring to completion.

Even your work and ministry. St. Timothy go all out.

This eagerness is wholehearted. This, don't hold back.

Go all out for the ministry to God's called you you I think that God is going to be a preacher in a sense of vocational thing.

Sophia's as doctor's orders as sports medicine or what whatever whatever the field you're in God's called you.

That way you are a Christian first and you seek to to minister.

That way, go all out for him. Don't hold back.

You think about that.

There's a last thing as we finish off your number four I would say the person is gonna make an impact as a person whose life matches the message they love the Bible they learn from the Scriptures, publicly and even privately, they they they they long to be with the Lord in the consider staying for God in the spiritual life and one day they will get to see him face-to-face a thing is way it but but then at the person who really longs and loves to obey the Bible and they live consistent with, and by God's grace your you keep running back to the Lord and to the word. This is the apostle Paul. He leads by example verse six for I am now ready to be offered was he talking about. He's dealing with a very present time.

I say I'm writing report out the idea offered is to be poured out as a drink offering, you know, in the Scriptures give a good way to the Old Testament will take you there, but the ideas is found in Numbers chapter 15 verses one through 10.

There's there's three kinds of offerings there's there's the idea of the burnt offering that the death of the animal. As I give the grain offering for the first fruits of the labor within the final part of the offer and the drink offering work within.

He is pouring out over that is a sweet smelling savor the Lord. The apostle Paul saying that's where I am. I have died yes with Christ, I been like this for an offer not given myself as a first which is why, but here I am now the end of my life be poured out I'm a drink offering way to go. That's what he's living is for my time, my departure is at hand. I think about this.

I and we we we the work pictures departure.

The idea of loosing ropes of the ship so I can sail back.

Think about World War II. I know none of us were badly good, but weeping of the history the ideas of World War II what happened after the war was over and we win the military men when they do the getting in ships and planes. The anchors being pulled out there loosing the roast and they are going all that's Paul going home for seven I have fought a good fight fight I have finished my course, it's like a race run along the long race and Hades finished his course, I have kept the faith. The one true faith. He is guarded it to the very very and and so that's what he saying in initially in the present verse six, but then you have in the past for seven and you have in the future and henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but all them also that love his appearing. Paul speaking of the future and say this is laid up for me this crown of righteousness.

Now some of preach.

This is almost like you get this crown of righteousness and unity goes in the grounds and boldly through the grounds of the feet of Jesus and but this doesn't seem to be that way there's a who's who do study the Greek it's the ideas it's accredited like a genitive of apposition the ideas it's a crown which is righteousness. The reward is full righteousness and this too can be for any trouble getting on their book their rewards to get but this reward is like the idea for a true believer that he finally goes to glory and experience is a very righteousness of Christ one man interviewing a saint of the past was talking to him in the midst of this conversation.

He started pounding the St. that he was and he says I I hate my hey Stan, I long for the day fully delivered justification declared righteous syncopation God is making you more holy and making you more like Christ. That's an ongoing process, but praise God one day when we die as true believers or something called glorification were now you get the that the new resurrected body and your your fully freed from the very presence of said and all God's people say amen God's people say that phony believers don't look at this… This is interesting and since the all them also that love his appearing.

This is the any true believer and who loves and longs for the appearing of Jesus.

True believers as I conclude this I think about the apostle Paul Dean of the story you history of the story historically. Basically, the apostle Paul spent his last days in prison, member time limiting prison. It's there in Italy and Rome from her years ago on a mission trip in action 07 we went to Italy and we we saw the Coliseum Summit is like a special day without took one in town and that's cool you know, forcing all these different things you know were all excited about the American standing one of years old and then you got like the Coliseum is thousands of years old you just it just wow about that. The most moving thing for me was to go to this prison historically is the last place of the apostle Paul would've spent his time was a sister. It was a place and in many ways. If you go there like now you walk down the steps and you make your way into the cistern and it's it's not a very big area and all such like which are in this delicate cavelike thing back then there was a steps to walk down actually is the you can see today is a hole in the ceiling and that's where they would lower the prisoner and it was waiting for a place of execution.

He was a death row. That's where he was. Three would've historically spent his last days of loading down and there are honestly there were times historically were that prison would get to full and awaiting execution and so sometimes they would just pull the lever and the lever would actually flood the cistern with sewage from the city they would drown all of these people waiting to die for capital punishment that they would drown them in sewage than pull another lever in and pull out the surgeon plot bodies, but is working. Apostle Paul would've been there.

You can imagine the day when else in the: they lower the rope is raised about that and is going to his place of execution of the apostle Paul being a Roman citizen cannot be executed as a you know on a cross. And so what would they do. Historically they would stay with they would kill you, and usually it was white, severing her head so now here he is making his way for me pulled up to the place of the chopping block where he would die where he would be poured out literally as a drink offering, he said for me to live is Christ to die is gain. Could you imagine in just moments I will be with the Lord absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

They probably looked at him as most crazy man ever as he walked to probably the greatest smile, his face known in just moments high and be with Jesus. Now you have that execution and severances had again absent from the body present with the Lord.

He finished his course, he kept the faith by think about this. I want to challenge you, don't just try to make it, but by God's grace found in your spiritual life. Get serious about this. Be committed to the work.

Personally, I'll tell you this, you will see God work in you and praise God, you will see him work through you. You been listening to the conclusion of the sermon by evangelist Jeremy Frazier. You can learn more about his ministry by going to his website, Frazier.org that's FRA CO are.O RG. Thanks for listening and join us again next week for another sermon from the Bob Jones University Chapel platform