My first sergeant was an old soldier with a great deal of experience. He was tough on me and never cut me any slack. Later in my career, it dawned on me that this old soldier was trying to force me to learn about my job and gain knowledge. The Apostle Paul, under house arrest in Rome and about to be executed, shared his old soldier's wisdom with us, exhorting us to preach God's word.

by Dr. Henry Johnson

I remember going into the Army. After I finished training, I was assigned to a company at Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri. My first sergeant was an old soldier with a great deal of experience. He was tough on me and never cut me any slack. I was his company clerk. He would make me read regulations related to my job. He would expect me to know the regulation number and paragraph for the various responsibilities of my job. I will never forget my experiences with preparing the morning report. The morning report was a document that accounted for all the soldiers in the unit. It told who was on leave or being assigned, reassigned or on temporary duty, or absent without leave, or even in the hospital. It gave an accurate accounting of all the soldiers. This document, according to the regulation, had to be typed and could have no more than three typing errors per page. Now that's what the regulation said but 1SG Ashmore O. Edwards didn't allow any mistakes. I sometimes would work several hours to get this one document done to his satisfaction. Needless to say, he was not one of my favorite people, in fact I had a strong dislike for him. Later in my career, it dawned on me that this old soldier was trying to give me advice in his own way to help boost my military career. What he had done was force me to learn about my job and gain knowledge far beyond my peers. This old soldier's advice helped me be all that I could be in the Army.

In our text, Paul, who was an old soldier for the Lord, is writing his spiritual son, Timothy. Paul had met Timothy on his second missionary journey. Paul saw something special in Timothy. In 2 Timothy 1:16, Paul tells Timothy to stir up the gift of God which is in thee. Paul took Timothy with him to various locations and spent time mentoring him. This young preacher learned from Paul but he experienced some difficulties along the way. Timothy was on the missionary team that went to Corinth. Paul later sent Timothy back to Corinth to resolve some difficulties in the church. Timothy experienced some resistance from some of the members in the Corinthian church. As a result of this resistance, Timothy was unable to solve the problems and the mission he was sent on was a failure.

As Paul writes to Timothy in our text, he is under house arrest in Rome. This old soldier who has gone through many battles for the cause of Christ realizes that the end of his life is near. He has gone through the first phase of his trial and is awaiting the final phase which will lead to his execution. Paul, knowing that the end is near, wants to give Timothy some advice.

Paul begins by giving Timothy a charge. He gives this charge before God and Our Lord Jesus. The charge is to preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Paul is probably remembering Timothy's experience in Corinth. Timothy is now pastoring in Ephesus so Paul wants him to stand firm no matter what he might encounter. He tells him to preach the word because he knew that it was through the preaching of the word that people are drawn to Christ. Paul wants Timothy to preach the word whether it is convenient or not whether it makes him popular or not. He wants Timothy to preach the word. Paul also wanted Timothy to know that the preaching of the word had three elements which are reprove, rebuke and exhort.

Paul wanted Timothy to preach in a way that people would be convicted which is to reprove. Then he wanted Timothy to preach in a way that he warns people, which is to rebuke. Paul wanted Timothy to preach in a way that would be an appeal to people to come to a better way of living, which is to exhort. Paul charged Timothy to preach the word and next he tells him why he needs to preach the word. Look at verses 3 & 4. Paul says, For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. He wants this young man to know that there is going to be a time that people won't listen to the Word of God but will want to hear what feels good and sounds good to them. This old soldier knew that all preaching won't feel good and it won't sound good so he warns Timothy that the time is coming so he needs to expect difficult times and some who will resist him.

This is good advice, but there is more. Paul tells Timothy in verse 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. He wants Timothy to be alert and to get tough. You see Timothy was a sensitive young man and Paul knew that people would try to take advantage of him. Paul wants Timothy to toughen up so he could endure afflictions. In other words, Paul is letting him know that things aren't always going to be easy, people won't always support him, and people will even launch attacks on him and his integrity. Paul wants Timothy to stand firm and not give in or give up. Paul gives Timothy some further advice as he tells him to do the work of an evangelist which is to be a witness so people will be won to Christ. Paul, an old soldier for the Lord, ends by giving one final piece of advice. He tells Timothy to make full proof of his ministry. Paul knew Timothy's ministry wouldn't be exactly like his but he wanted Timothy to do whatever the Lord wanted him to do with his ministry. Timothy needed to be in prayer and study so God could direct his ministry and use him to build the kingdom.

Memorial Day Ceremony: North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial - May 31, 2010.

Extending Jesus' Ministry

I know many of you are wondering what this text has for you after all it is written from one pastor to another pastor. Don't fret, there is some advice from this old soldier that applies to you. You have a valuable ministry. You have a ministry that requires you be messengers for the Lord. You are to know the Word of God so you can handle it in a way that you can reprove, rebuke, and exhort God's people. As spiritual leaders in the church, you carry that as a responsibility. Contrary to popular belief, the pastor is not a super hero so he needs dependable people to help him. You have the work of an evangelist as part of your call. You are to be a witness and to lead the lost to the Lord. You must make full proof of your ministry. You must stay in prayer and study so God can lead and guide you as you work with your pastor to build the kingdom.

Now to my brothers in the ministry, as you continue your growth in ministry, the words of Paul should lay heavy on your hearts. Your charge is to preach the word. Your preaching should not be designed to satisfy or entertain people. If you are preaching to be popular, you probably want to rethink what you are doing and perhaps become a singer because the preaching of the Gospel is designed to convict the sinner, the backslider, and the believer so they will walk faithfully with the Lord. The preaching of the Gospel is designed to warn all that the wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life. The preaching of the Gospel is an appeal to make a commitment to serve the Lord. This kind of preaching isn't popular. In fact this very type of preaching got Jesus arrested and crucified. Your call is to preach the Word in all situations so be instant in season and out of season, for we are living in the time that people want feel-good sermons and want things to satisfy their urges and not what thus sayest the Lord.

The road for you is not going to be easy so you need to endure the afflictions and preach the Word. God is taking you to this next step so you can do the work of an evangelist. It is your calling to witness to people so they will accept Jesus as Lord. Brothers, make full proof of your ministries. You are called to a high calling. You are responsible for properly handling the Word of God as you preach to His people. This should not be taken lightly because you will be judged for your faithfulness.

This call comes with great responsibility. This call comes with a deep commitment. The road is not going to be easy and God will supply yours needs. You must be faithful in all that you do. You will have to go even if you have to go by yourself. You will have to go even when you don't feel like going. Your call is not for cowards. That's why you were chosen. So you need to put your war clothes on and take the advice of that old Christian soldier, Paul. If you will just peek into verse 7, you find Paul saying I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

Paul remained faithful and you he knew that God would reward him. If you will fight the good fight and finished the course, God will welcome you home. He will say well done good and faithful servant.

Just Keeping It Real!

Reverend Dr. Henry Johnson
12 November 2003
doctorj@praisenet.org
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