Shabbat Shalom! Let's please open our Bibles to 2 Timothy, chapter 4, the first eight verses. I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. the word. Be instant in season, out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 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. But watch thou in all things. Endure affliction. Do the work of an evangelist.

Make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have 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, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Wonderful passage, brothers and sisters, the last chapter, and we're just going to deal today with the first eight verses. And Lord willing, should the Lord tarry, we will conclude with 2 Timothy in our next meeting together.

It must have been very precious to the heart of Paul when he was writing this letter. In fact, it's like the song of a person that is now ready to leave this world. In fact, what he's really showing to us when he writes this last chapter, it's like a song that expresses his heartfelt beating towards the things of God and the things of Yeshua, the Messiah. He knew very well, as we have already studied many times, that he's not going to remain in here for too long. 67 AD about, he's ready to be killed by Nero, the Roman emperor. He's in a dungeon, in a cave somewhere, in prison.

He must have a terrible condition of living, an awful period of time in his older age, before he's going to pass out of this scene. And he's just writing these, you might say, final words. If you want to know the state of a person and what his heart is really all about, you will have to read the last statement and testimony before that person is passing out of this scene. The Apostle Paul, before he left this world, before he left this world, really cared for the welfare of the body of Messiah. He loved the people of God. You can just see it throughout the scriptures.

He wrote 13 letters that are found in the New Covenant. Every letter had to do with the importance of teaching, sound teaching, teaching the word of God, setting the affection on the person of Yeshua, instructing believers that they will grow in a grace and in a knowledge of Jesus, the Messiah. He loved our nation, Israel, his own people, so much that in the book of Romans, he taught the believers of God's plan, even for his own people, his own brethren, the Jewish people, that one day God is going to restore the whole nation of Israel back to himself. But until that time is happening, he had been preaching the message of the gospel in Asia Minor, sharing everywhere where the Lord had allowed him the gospel, that the Messiah has come, that the Messiah lived the perfect life, that the Messiah died a substitutionary death, and that the Messiah was buried in a tomb in the land of Israel in Jerusalem, and that the Messiah was buried in Jerusalem, and that the Messiah, and that the Messiah was buried in Jerusalem, and that God had raised the Messiah and placed him at the pinnacle of the universe.

He had preached the word concerning Yeshua, the Messiah, and all those that came to faith, he had instructed them concerning their life, how shall they live, what shall they learn, whom they should listen to, and what they are to adhere to. Amazing man, amazing man, amazing man, it had been said that there are two towering personalities that are found in the history of the people of Israel. One of them was Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses, a lawgiver, who was a towering personality in Israel's history, the Tanakh in the Old Testament, and the Apostle Paul, Shaul Paul, who was a towering personality during the age of the Brit HaChadasha.

Two Jewish men that God had raised to bring a blessing to bring a blessing to the nation of Israel and to the nations of the world. But he's ready to pass out of this sin. He's not going to stay any longer. So what shall he do? In his heart he felt it's so necessary to pass along to others the responsibility and the privilege of living for the Lord, of loving the Lord, of serving the Lord, and presenting the gospel and the word of God to many that have been willing to listen to the word of God. And you and I are also, beloved brothers and sisters, are privileged but also responsible to share with others the word of God.

So in this last chapter, the Apostle Paul really presents before Timothy a charge. It's really the last challenging word of Paul to Timothy and to you and I. These are the last words. In fact, chapter 4 of 2 Timothy is the last writing that Shaul Paul ever written in the canon of Scripture. These are the last words. The last words. And he's saying to Timothy three things in this chapter. Number one, preach the word of God. Number two, he says to him, make full proof of your ministry. Fulfill the ministry that God has called you for. And number three, he says, be diligent in everything that you do.

Three things. Preach the word, number one. Number two, he says, fulfill the call that the Lord has given you. Don't slack. And number three, he says, whatever you do, do it diligently and be faithful in whatever you do. You know, it's like you and I, right? We also need to be truthful in preaching the word of God. Not only preaching about the word of God, but preaching the word of God. Secondly, we are to fulfill the ministry that God has called us. What God has called you, what God has called me, what God has called Timothy, Paul, Simon, Peter, and many others in the history of the body of Christ, the body of Mashiach.

God has called us to serve him. Fulfill the ministry. And thirdly, be diligent in whatever you do. Do it with a diligence and consistently and being faithful in whatever you do. And so in this ministry meeting, we're just going to deal with the first eight verses in which the apostle Paul said to Timothy, number one, preach the word. Number two, make full proof of your ministry. Fulfill whatever God had called you to do. So you see, brothers and sisters, when he said these things to him, he first of all, in the first four verses, he encouraging him to preach the word of God. But before he used that expression, preach the word, you notice what he does in verse one.

This is Paul. I charge you, this is Timothy, therefore before God and before the Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and at his kingdom. You see, he's first of all telling to Timothy, Timothy, listen, I am charging you. And the reason that I charge you or the basis upon which I am charging you, I want you to understand that one day we are going to stand before God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the Messiah, Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach himself, we are going to stand before God one day. And I want you to know, Timothy, that this God and this Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah, he is the one that is going to one day be the judge.

In Hebrew, we call it Shofet. He is going to be the one that ultimately is going to judge every individual. And not only every individual, he says he is the judge of the living, the quick and the dead. You see, one day he is saying to Timothy, this Jesus, this Yeshua, that had been despised and rejected by men. Do you know what's going to happen? One day, this very same person that is now rejected, that is now despised, the very same one, one day going to sit as a judge of everyone. Everyone is going to have to stand one day before the Lord. The living and the dead.

What he is really saying, the living and the dead, we can look at it in two ways. The living has to do with the believers who receive new life, new creation because of Yeshua's work for them on the tree. And the dead, this was all those who refused the measure of the gospel. Also, he is also going to be the judge of the living of the dead. Even those that are living in a time when he is going to come and he is appearing. Those who are going to remain there alive. He is going to be the one who is going to judge this world.

And all those that passed away already, all are going to stand one day before the Messiah himself. See, Timothy, I am charging you, Timothy. I am going to tell you what I want you to do as you continue on serving the Lord. But remember, Timothy, that one day we all are going to stand before God and before the Messiah, the Messiah, Yeshua himself. You see, brothers and sisters, people today don't realize that. They carry on their life as if everything is fine and dandy. They don't realize that one day they are going to have to give an account to the living God. To believers, you and I, 2 Corinthians 5, 10 says, For we must all appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah, of the Messiah, of Christ, of Christ, of Christ.

We too, too, as believers, our sins have been forgiven us. Praise God for that. But one day we are going to have to appear before the judge, Yeshua, the Messiah. And then later on, thousand years later, after the believers are going to appear before the judgment seat of the Messiah, the unbelievers are going to appear before the great white throne judgment in Revelation, chapter 20. So there is no one, nowhere, in the whole human race that will ever be able to escape the day in which we are all going to have to appear before him. Because we read here, I charge, therefore, thee, Timothy, before God, and also before our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing in his kingdom.

He is going to appear one day. He is going to come. You see, when Satan has influenced men to kill the Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah, on the tree, people thought they have done away with him. That's it. He's gone. We don't have to stand before him anymore. And Paul says, no, no, no. He says, one day that very same Jesus, Yeshua, the Messiah, will be the judge. And it's such a blessing for you and I to, first of all, come to the foot of the tree of the cross where we have confessed our sins before him and he has forgiven our sins because of the fact that for this reason he came to this world to die for the sin of humanity.

But woe unto them that reject his provision for them and are waiting the day of judgment. But Paul now speaks to Timothy. He specifically said, Timothy, listen, I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and at his kingdom. Now turn with me for a moment to Matthew chapter 28. And then notice what Yeshua said before he left this scene. And he have gone to heaven after his resurrection. And then he went back to heaven. And he said at the end of the gospel of Matthew, he said to the disciples before he sent them to preach.

Yeshua came and he spoke unto them in verse 18 of Matthew chapter 28. And notice what he said to them. All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth. God gave me all the authority. God has given his son all the authority and the power over the universe. Everything has been given to the son. The very one that was rejected, he received from the father. All power is given unto me in heaven, he said, also here on earth. In heaven and on earth. Every authority has been delegated unto the son, Yeshua, the Messiah. He is the one that one day is going to judge this world in righteousness.

Let me read you another verse in John chapter 5 and verse 22. Yeshua is speaking again. And he said, For the father judges no man, but he has committed all judgment unto the son. And he says in verse 23 that all men should honor the son even as they honor the father. He that honoreth not the son, he honoreth not the father which hath sent him. You see, brothers and sisters, Paul is saying to Timothy that the Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah, is going to be one day the judge of the living and the dead. And that's why he's stirring Timothy. So Timothy realized, on the basis of this, you have to realize that you are going to preach the word faithfully.

And that you are going to fulfill your ministry faithfully. And whatever that you do, seek to do it as it were with diligence and faithfulness because this is the only way that God will be pleased. And so Timothy had been exhorted to do so. And so you notice now what he says. In 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 2. Now here's Paul charging Timothy. Look at this. He's saying to him, Timothy, preach the word. Just pause here for a moment. You know, preaching the word. What a privilege to preach God's word. To realize that every time that we preach, we're getting up, we stand up, or we make a visit with a friend, or we are somewhere here or there, wherever we are.

We have the privilege of sharing the word of God and presenting the word of God to everyone around. What a privilege it is for us to preach the word. So Timothy is being told. Notice, he doesn't tell him beat around the bush and try to fix all kind of things. He says, preach the word of God. No more, no less. The preaching of the word of God is necessary because when the word of God is being preached, then God is being honored and then man is being fed. You see, brothers and sisters, listen. When you and I heard the message of the gospel, we have listened to the word of God and the gospel of the grace of God reached our hearts and we have accepted the Mashiach, the Messiah, and we got saved.

You see, the word of God is the only power unto salvation to everyone that believes. We cannot play around and give only the stories of human opinion. No, God wants us to preach the word of God. In the time of the prophets of Israel, God said to Isaiah, to Jeremiah, to Yehezkel, to Daniel, thus saith the Lord. In Hebrew, ko amar Adonai. It's not Isaiah's opinion. It's not Yirmiyahu's opinion. It is not Yehezkel's opinion. It is not Daniel's opinion. And it's not Shaul Paul's opinion or Timothy's opinion. Preach the word. Preach the word. And you know, the word of God, it's a source of blessing.

You know, when we hear the word of God, we hear the word of God, it encourages our hearts. How many groups today set aside the Bible, the word of God, and they come to what you call congregation or church meeting, and they have all kind of games and all kind of things going on there, and the word is not preached. And it becomes like a club, you see? And then you don't come to hear the word of God. Well, listen, what is the body of Yeshua? The Messiah, the body of Christ, Guf HaMashiach, is where the Messiah is being centered, and the object, and the word of God is being taught, and the people of God are being fed.

But can you imagine, you're going to go to so-called assembly meeting, or church meeting, or congregational meeting, or kehila, and you don't hear the word? Ah, Timothy, Paul is saying to him, no, no, no, Timothy. You, Timothy, preach the word. Preach the word. Don't preach your opinion. Don't preach what you think need to be preached. You preach the word. God's word. Dvar Elohim. Thus saith the Lord. Ko amar Adonai. And so, Timothy is being told by Paul to do so, and this is so interesting, because he said to him, preach the word, and then he said to him, when to do so, and how to do so.

Notice he says here, be instant. I'm reading now verse 2. Be. Be instant, or be ready to do so. He says, in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine. In other words, Timothy, listen, you don't only preach the word when you feel like, but be ready to do so. Be instant. The Hebrew word here, hatmed, do it continuously, in season, out of season. In season, out of season. In other words, there is never, never a time in which we should not allow the word of God be part of whatever we do. and whenever we speak. You know, it's not healthy for a believer to say, listen, I go to the church meeting on Sunday or on Shabbat, on Saturday.

I put my so-called jacket for this weekend. I take it off and I don't talk about the Lord the whole week after. And then next week I come and I'll be religious again. Put my jacket of a religious person and all of a sudden talk a little bit about God then take it off and carry on my life without Him the other way. And then, oh, again. You see, Timothy was not called to do so. Paul was not teaching that. So listen, wherever you go, minister the word of God. Minister the word of God. Teach and preach the word of God in order to be instant, in season, out of season because there is never, can you imagine, brothers and sisters, people have so much pain in this world.

People have so much misunderstanding about the things of God. Many people are not knowing that they are heading to eternal separation from God. People don't realize when they are getting themselves connected with things that are not biblical that they are only entangling themselves with things which are not healthy. Timothy, no, no, no. You preach the word in season, out of season. As it says, be instant, be ready always to share it. You don't need to be aggressive. You don't need to be obnoxious. You don't need to force it down the throat of other people. You do it gently, graciously, with wisdom and sensitivity. Yes. But take the opportunity to preach the word.

You know, because there is an effect when the word of God is being presented. You see, there is such a disorder in this world. The only one that we can find comfort here is in the person of Yeshua, the Mashiach, and through his word. Through his word we find comfort, we find encouragement. Believers, unbelievers, find salvation, find hope if they only listen to the word of God. For the word of God, the Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12, is powerful. It is sharper than two-edged sword. And it is able to discern. And it is able to divide the soul and the spirit. And it is able to help us to distinguish certain things.

To help us in our spiritual growth. You know how many times when you go to a person who is sick in the hospital and you give him the word of God and you read him just a couple of verses and it comforts the heart when a person is sick. And what about when a person is needy and have all sort of problems? You come and you read for him a few verses from the word of God and you give him or her an encouragement and lifting them up. That's the word of God. You know, I want you to read with me. Go to Psalm 19 for a second.

Look what David, the king of Israel, said about the word of God. And when we say about the word of God, it speaks about the whole counsel of God. From Genesis, Bereshit, to Revelation, to Chazon, all the scriptures. Look what Psalm 19 verse 7 says. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgment of the Lord are true and righteous all together. Verse 10 tells us David, David, the king of Israel, said, more to be desire are they than gold, yet than much fine gold.

They are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. You know, David used six different words to apply to the word of God. The word Torah Adonai, the law of the Lord. The word Edut Adonai, the testimony of the Lord. The word Pikudei Adonai, the statues of the Lord. The word Mitzvot Adonai, the commandments of the Lord. The word Yirat Adonai, the fear of the Lord. And the word Mishpatei Adonai, the judgments of the Lord. Moreover, to be desired are they than gold, yet than much fine gold. They are sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. And so, Timothy is encouraged to preach the word and to be instant in season, out of season.

And you see the word of God also, beloved brothers and sisters, is convicting us. Notice that in verse 2 he says, to reprove, to rebuke, to exhort with all long suffering a doctrine. See that word for reprove, it means to convict. See, when we hear the word of God, it convicts us. When we have gone in a wrong direction, it convicts us, it helps us to be restored. Secondly, that word rebuke, it warns us. It gives us a warning. If you're going to go in that direction, look where it's going to lead you. And the word of the Lord helps us to be warned in the direction that we go.

And thirdly, he says, it exhorts them. This is really to appeal to the heart and the conscience and the conscience of the hearer. That's why a preacher of the word of God is not only to read the text, but also to use the text to correct and to warn and to appeal and to convict because we all need that in our lives. Even us who are believers, we know how wayward we are. How quickly we go astray and we're getting discouraged and the things of the Lord are being set aside. And imagine Timothy was a younger man. He's living in Ephesus right now. He's ministering in the city of Ephesus and already there there were rising issues and problems there.

And so Timothy needed to minister to the people there and to be faithful to what the Lord has called him to be there. So he was to preach the word and he was to do so instant in readiness of mind in season out of season to reprove to rebuke to exhort but listen at the end of verse 2 he said with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Now what's happening if you are going to preach the word and if you are going to reprove rebuke and exhort you need a lot of longsuffering to serve the Lord is not only standing in a pulpit and telling him what the word of God said and not to have longsuffering and patience with the brothers and sisters in order to help them to mature and to develop it's not merely an oratory you know I'm just a preacher no a preacher is also to seek to help others in their spiritual growth it's not only telling people how bad they are or how wrong they are without to first of all apply it to yourself and secondly trying

to help the body of Messiah to grow spiritually well that's what Paul is telling Timothy with long suffering bearing with one another long suffering it takes time beloved brothers and sisters for the flock to grow and to mature for the people of God and notice at the end of verse 2 it says end doctrine you know always you find Apostle Paul emphasizing limud doctrine doctrine why again I mentioned it before because he have already mentioned that earlier in the previous chapter the importance of sound doctrine limud or teaching that is based upon the word of God you remember he said to Timothy in chapter 2 in verse 15 study to show yourself a proof unto

God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth cutting it in a straight line make sure that you give sound doctrine that's what he's really saying here to Timothy in this passage very very precious how the Apostle Paul is encouraging Timothy with that thought of sound doctrine if you just go back for a moment to chapter 3 and notice what it says in verse 16 all scripture is given by the inspiration of God and it is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness that the man of God or the woman of God may be mature thoroughly furnished unto all good works he spoke about doctrine

many many times and he's adding this again here in this second verse so he continues now verse 1 he reminded him that Yeshua is going to be the judge and he's going to be judging all men the living and the dead in verse 2 he's telling preach the word preach the word just simply present the word of God to others as he mentioned it here in verse 2 but now notice what he does in verse 3 and 4 in verse 3 and 4 here's the reason for the preaching of the word here's the reason Timothy he says for the time will come when they will not undo sound doctrine but after their own lust 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 Timothy here's the reason why you need to preach the word not only because the word of God is so precious and encouraging the believers and it is a way of salvation faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God but Timothy I want to tell you what's going to happen I know this because the Lord revealed this to me Shaul Paul is saying this to Timothy for the time will come for the time will come Timothy I want you to know that when they will not endure sound doctrine that

they beloved brothers and sisters or verse three are the very same men that I mention in chapter three and verse two and a little bit later on in verse eight let me read you chapter three and verse two for men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection trucebreakers false accusers incontinent fearers despisers of those that are good traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof now these are the they in chapter four and verse three are the very same professing believers professing Christians professing Meshichim who are part of the great

house the professing assembly and can you imagine he says listen I know what's going to happen Timothy because the times will surely come I'm telling you this Timothy that they will no longer induce sound doctrine and beloved brothers and sisters Paul said this in about 66-67 AD we are now at about 2017 we are talking about over 1950 years or so and can you imagine what's going on today the professing church Christendom have so many views about the things of the word of God the things of the Lord and it is really a time in which we live in this is what we call the last days in which we live the Messiah is going

to come soon and he is really telling to Timothy and of course what Timothy heard and received is passed along to us and in a sense you and I are part of this professing group that name the name of Yeshua the Messiah Jesus the Messiah and we are part of this great house and he says they will no longer endure sound doctrine makes you wonder why because we have a sin nature we have a sin nature and the sin nature wants to have its own way I know better than God I am going to tell you what the Bible says I am going to tell you the way to God some reject that Yeshua is

divine others reject the triunity of the Godhead others reject the virgin birth of the Messiah others reject the doctrine that has clearly been taught in the word of God both by Old Testament saints the Hebrew people the people of Israel and by the body of Messiah by believers who gave us in the New Testament in the word of God rejecting the clear word of God and he says listen they will not endure sound doctrine anymore and you know the word for sound means a true teaching of the word of God they will no longer endure it and you notice what he said in verse 3 again he continues but after their own lusts they shall

the same day they will heap to themselves teachers because they have a tickling ears and they want somebody to scratch it you see isn't it nice if somebody is going to come to say to you and to me you know what you are a good guy you are a great person everything you do is fine God loves you and therefore all you need is just accept the love of God you can carry on in your own way never mind what God teaches us in his word it's very nice it's kind of you know like when you sometimes have a tickle in your ear it's so nice when it's kind of somebody scratches you scratch oh

this tickling you feel so much better see what Paul is saying people will want teachers that will teach them things that will make them feel good it's a feel good preaching you see oh yes you know it's interesting that usually when we go to a funeral service usually we always hear this person was such a kind man and this lady she was a precious precious lady we always seem to do that right because we don't want to say anything bad about the person and that is appropriate but you know in reality sometime when we really think about this person must have been a very difficult person a very hard person whether it is a male

or female a boy a girl a man or woman you know this person will be extremely difficult this person will be very hard in his or her life but when he or she passed away we say oh what a lovely person that person have been so you know we are like that isn't it that we like to heal things that are very pleasant today but we don't like when sometimes the Lord had to tell us listen the direction that you go is not right you need to be corrected by that and when we carry on in sin in our life the sin which does so easily beset us and the Lord had to tell us

this is wrong we don't like to hear that right we like that the Lord will say wow you've done so many things we don't like when there's a rebuke and correction and sometimes beloved brothers and sisters we see in Christendom in a professing church we have those that will rise up in those last days and they will after their own last they shall hip to themselves teachers because they have itching ear the word in Hebrew is ledag deg you know it's like tickling they have a tickled ear and they need somebody to scratch it for them so they will feel better now we don't need to criticize people all day long we don't need to

cut people down that is not ministry ministry is sharing the word seeking to be in some small measure an example we always seem to fail in that we know that but we are to teach the word to preach the word and to preach sound teaching as we find here in this passage in Hebrew we call it limud bari healthy teaching healthy teaching teaching that are healthy sound doctrine it says in verse 3 they they will not endure sound doctrine and in verse 4 they shall turn away their ears from the truth the truth sometimes hurt but the truth needed to be presented so notice that in verse 4 now not only that they will not

do sound doctrine not only that after their own lust they shall heap to themselves teachers because they are itching ears but notice in verse 4 they shall turn away their ears from the truth and they shall be turned unto fables you know turning away from the truth and going unto fables and you see you notice he used twice the word ears why because the avenue whereby we hear the word is through the ears somebody said the other day no wonder why God has given us two ears and only one mouth so we will listen twice as much as we speak but we sometimes reverse it right we speak twice as much as we hear and

so the word ears is mentioned twice here having itching ears verse 3 and verse 4 they shall turn away their ears from the truth and oh how sad how many have over the have thought that they can change the truth or that they can deviate from the truth that is written in the word of God and they have heard in the course and have ended up to see that the truth will never change you just ten years twenty years thirty years later discovered that I should have listened to the truth that is found in the word of God I would have been far better had I listened to the truth but you see they turn

away their ears from the truth and notice what they turn into for fables is the Hebrew word Haggadot it's tellings of all kind of stories you know in Israel's history we have many many Haggadot many many stories that we can say over the years and many of them are beautiful Haggadot beautiful stories but there are also some stories that are not real and not biblical it's the same thing in the time in which we live in there are many today who are turning away to fables things that are not based upon the word of God they turn away the Greek word is mythos m-y-t-h-o-s it's like a myth it's nothing it's just in air it's

not real oh yeah but they told me that story and they believe in that you know there is a story that been told that in somewhere I think it is in Portugal that Mary Miriam the mother of Jesus they have an image there I think and she's crying there and you can go in a certain time and you can see the image the tears it's a myth people go there every time to find out oh Miriam is there and she's crying she's weeping and see that image showed the weeping and so wow and it's part of a religion it's a myth it's not found in the Bible she's rejoicing in glory she gave birth to

Yeshua HaMashiach as a woman that had been privileged but she's now in heaven and she's not weeping she's rejoicing in the presence of God all sort of stories are being told there are myths that are being told all around and see what people according to Paul who said to Timothy they shall turn away their ears from the truth but they shall turn unto fables now that expression fable is mentioned more than once in the letters that Paul wrote to Timothy turn to 1st Timothy please chapter 1 in verse 4 Paul said neither give heed to fables and to endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith so do Paul said

to Timothy already in the first letter notice how it is so interesting in chapter 4 of 1st Timothy and verse 7 Paul said refuse profane and old wives fables Haggadot and exercise yourself rather unto godliness fables set them aside you Timothy make sure that you preach the word because there will be those that in those days the time will come they will not anymore endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables and how sad it is brothers and sisters and indeed this is the days in which we live in today

as well there are many fables many myths that are being told all kind of things many false teachings that are being taught today and a person need to search the scriptures and be a student of the word of God rightly dividing the word of truth and setting things aside that are not pleasing to the Lord now I just want to read one more verse in the prophet Jeremiah look at that passage Jeremiah is preaching to our people Israel and I want you to listen to what Jeremiah was telling to the people to our nation Israel in chapter 5 and verse 30 and 31 look at this it says a waste fool and a horrible thing

is committed in the land the prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so you see when Israel our own nation have departed from the ways of the Lord the prophets prophesied false prophecy the priests of Israel bear rule by their own means not trusting the Lord but in their own way they invented the religion you might say and he says notice God says my people they love to have it this way in other words they love to continue to allow this oh it's great you know they had itching ears want to be tickled as well because they love to do so because they departed

from sound teaching from the word of the Lord it happened historically to our own nation Israel and it is happening in the present day dispensation of the church age the body of Messiah the very same thing that's why we must be very careful when we blame Israel because we look at within the professing church today the depth of the fall of the professing church is far deeper than the depth of the fall that Israel the nation had fallen in Israel's days and so now brothers and sisters let's continue on not only that Timothy is to preach the word verses 1 2 3 and 4 now verses 5 6 7 and 8 Timothy is encouraged and

charged to fulfill the ministry that God called him for and I'm reading verse 5 but you Timothy watch notice then but watch thou in all things endure affliction do the work of an evangelist make full proof of your ministry Timothy Timothy okay here's the contrast they will continue in their own way they will carry on as raising for themselves teachers having itching ears but you Timothy you need to do something different don't follow this way you be different and you know that's what God is calling all believers to be different in a sense of you commit yourself to the word of God you as it says here in verse 5 watch in all things and

if you are going to watch and be careful what you listen to whom you listen to what you be occupied with just watch it and the word for watch here is really come from that word of being sober be sober watch be alert be sober you be sober you be alert and notice those four things here watch endure do and fulfill those four words we find here in verse 5 watch in all things endure affliction do the work of an evangelist and fourthly make full proof of thy ministry fulfill your ministry and so Timothy and you and I are called to be awakened and alert and the question we have to ask is what do

we listen to whom do we listen to and what do we kind of embrace as part of that which we understand from the word of God sometimes sometimes sometimes we really need to be careful I mean even we are preaching on the radio and it is a privilege to preach on the radio but you have all kind of Bible teachers on the radio all kind of views on the radio there are some who believe that Israel don't have a future any longer they teach it on the radio some have different views you know you have all kind watching all things because you have to be awakened to the fact that you might embrace things that

are not sound secondly so endure affliction because the moment you are going to participate in the work of the Lord and participate in following Yeshua the Messiah you will find that there will be some affliction involved in that that mean that people will not like what you say well look at the God look at Shaul Paul look at Peter look at James the early disciples they have suffered they have endured affliction in their life and last week we read 2nd Corinthians 4 2nd Corinthians 6 2nd Corinthians 11 we see the affliction that Shaul Paul have experienced in his life so he said endure it if there is a problem and you have to sometime endure

affliction endure it bear with it realize that this is part of the life of the believer the Hebrew word to endure is lisbol come from the word sevel it's suffering it has to do with the thought of suffering sometimes brothers and sisters a believer is called to suffer to suffer sometimes you know how many believers today I often think of the former Soviet Union the many who could not even open their Bible many years ago I'm talking about true believers who suffer because they are believers in Yeshua they are Christian they are Meshikhin and there are sufferings going on in Muslim world today where believers suffer because they name the name of Yeshua and sometimes

you and I may need to experience some challenges as believers as well we don't like it we don't look for that we don't want it but it is part of the believer's experience so endure affliction Timothy and then he said to him notice the third thing he said do the work of an evangelist it's so precious you know the evangelist is not only standing and preaching but to do the work of evangelist involves so many areas there are so many ways whereby we can evangelize let people know who Yeshua is and the need of salvation and then finally in that verse five make full proof or fulfill your ministry God gave you a gift God

gave you the gift to serve him as a shepherd as a pastor spiritual leader or gave you a gift to visit people gave you a gift to help others fulfill your ministry Timothy do your work carry on don't be discouraged Timothy do so because it is only going to bless you and the Lord will be honored by that and so brothers and sisters after he said to him this in verse five in verse six seven and eight the apostle Paul give Timothy three reasons why he is writing to him this letter but I want to highlight just by way of concluding that thought that we have here in those three verses we have certain things

that the apostle expresses to Timothy number one the apostle Paul knew what is coming ahead of him he he he knew very well what's going to happen to him number two the apostle Paul knew how he himself lived his life as a servant of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and number three the apostle Paul knew what he is going to receive once he left this world and he is going to be in glory with Yeshua so let me just read those three things here the first thing he knew what was going to happen he knew that he is going to die and so it says here in verse six for I am now ready to

be offered and the time of my departure is at hand in other words he says I'm ready I'm ready he says to be and notice he used the word offered what does he mean to be offered you see that expression to be offered it's like a libation it's like a pouring of the wine upon the altar which represent a libation it's like a offering unto the Lord and that thought here to be offered it's really represent before us the fact that he offered himself for the things of the Lord he gave over his life for the Lord he knew he was going to die he knew that Nero was going to kill him at any

time and by the way from history it had been told that they took Paul they placed his head on a place where they have actually chopped his head and cut his head off that was history it teaches us when the Romans when the emperor killed the apostle Paul he offered himself for the service of the Lord all his life was characterized by serving the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and he knew that it was going to happen so he says listen I'm willing to do so if that's what the Lord called me to do I will accept it from the hand of the Lord I'm willing to be offered notice he used the same expression in

Philippians chapter 2 in verse 17 Paul said yeah and and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith I joy and rejoice with you all he said this to the Philippians when he was in prison he said to them Philippians listen even if I will be offered upon the altar as a drink offering that you pour out he says I'm going to do so I'm willing to do it on your behalf he said to the Philippians and then here we see it in our chapter here that Paul said I am ready now to be offered what a servant of the Lord and then secondly in that same verse 6 he said

and the time of my departure is at hand that word here the departure is pteratin Hebrew I'm going to die very shortly I'm going to leave this scene Timothy so he knew can you imagine when you know you're just waiting in prison and you know any time the jailer going to come take me out of the dungeon and hand me over to another and they will take me to a certain place where the apostle Paul have lost his life by someone cutting his head and removing him out of this scene what an awful thing to know that is going to happen to you at any time so he's saying to Timothy I know I'm going

to die I know I'm going to leave this world but Timothy you watch you do you do the work of an evangelist you make full proof of your ministry I'm going to die Timothy I know what will happen to me at any time then beloved brothers and sisters in verse 7 Paul not only knew what is going to happen to him around him he also knew how he lived his life how he lived his life as a believer that's why he said in verse 7 I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith I have fought a good fight you know he had to fight not with his

own strength with the strength of the Lord who said without me he can do nothing for him it was a fight all his life he was devoted to his Messiah to his Mashiach to Yeshua he says I have fought a good fight those three times the word I is mentioned three times in verse 7 but not in a selfish way not in a prideful way but it was in a humble way he said I have fought a good fight I have finished my course and I have kept the faith you know it's so precious when a person continue on yes there are struggles yes there is opposition yes there is misunderstanding yes there is discouragement

yes oh yes it's always there what we going to do we going to blame everybody Paul could have blamed some of the believers who because of them he was in prison but he never blamed others he always he said this is what the Lord has allowed me to go through and I am accepting it from the hand of the Lord but I know for sure with the grace of God with the help of Yeshua the Messiah I fought a good fight I have finished my course this is the end for me and then he said I have kept the faith notice the faith he doesn't say I kept faith but I kept the faith as

Jude tells us the faith which was once and for all have been delivered unto the saints Jude in verse 3 the faith the emunah the doctrine that was given by God through Yeshua the Messiah the teaching that God have taught in his word that's what he says I have kept the faith in other words he fought a good fight he finished his course and he kept the faith when he passed away he died through Yeshua the Messiah he kept the faith all the way to the end it's so precious to see people who are getting up in age and are just you know the Lord might take them at any time and often time you

go to their bed when they are sick and in fact instead of you encouraging them you leave the room by being encouraged by their faith and their faithfulness to the Lord Paul says I have kept the faith so brothers and sisters he knew what was coming that he is going to die in verse 6 he knew how he lived his life as a believer in Yeshua the Messiah as a servant of the Lord he knew oh yes I'm sure he knew that there was a failure at time in his life that's why he says in Romans 7 the things I want to do this I don't do and the things that I do not want

to do this I do oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me out of this body of humiliation he says in Romans chapter 7 and then he turned his face his heart to the Lord he said I thank God through Yeshua the Messiah he knew how he lived his life and finally in verse 8 listen to this he also knew what he will receive from the Lord Yeshua the Messiah when he is going to be with him notice what he says in verse 8 this is interesting hence forth because of this there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me notice that at

that day and not to me only but unto all them that love his appearance you see he knew what was going around that he is ready to die he knew how he lived his life as a believer over the years but he also knew what is awaiting for him in heaven you know in other passages he said I know whom I believe in and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day I know who I am believing in but he also said I know what laid up for me in heaven in glory in the presence of the Messiah and you notice what he said

notice he says here hence there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge will give to me when that day he says and not only to me to you and to you and to you and to you and everyone that love his appearance it is so precious because the Bible the New Testament teaches us about crowns that the believers will receive now the word for crown is the Greek word Stephanos here and Stephanos simply mean that crown that comes it's a victorious crown a crown that the believer that will receive this is what you call a victorious crown Stephanos and every believer that is faithful to the Lord

really that crown represents a reward in heaven now we don't live for the Lord because of the reward but the Lord promised a reward for faithful life here in this world in fact the Bible teaches us that there are five kind of crowns that the believers the faithful believers will receive in first Corinthians chapter 9 and verse 25 Paul called it an incorruptible crown in first Thessalonian chapter 2 and verse 19 he calls it a crown of rejoicing in 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 8 where we are now he called it the crown of righteousness in James chapter 1 and verse 12 he calls it the crown of life and in first Peter chapter

5 and verse 4 he calls it the crown of glory this is a crown crown of righteousness crown of rejoicing crown of life crown of glory incorruptible crown they speak of a reward that the Lord will give to the believers for how did they live here upon the face of this earth now it's not that Paul sought for crowns and rewards but he knew that a faithful life here will be rewarded by the Lord he will say well done good and faithful servant and he was waiting to hear his master's word now beloved brothers and sisters there must be understanding between the crown the Stephanus crown that all believers who are faithful will receive with

the diadamos crown which is the royal crown of which we read in Revelation chapter 19 verse 11 and 12 that Yeshua the Messiah will have upon his forehead it's a diadamos it's a royal crown that he as king of kings the Lord of Lord will have upon his head but you and I who if we have been faithful in our life to the Lord the Lord will give us either the crown of righteousness or the crown of rejoicing or the crown of life or the crown of glory which is incorruptible crown it will it will it will never vanish away the reward and if you read carefully Revelation chapter 4 and chapter 5 even those

rewards the crown that we're going to get we're going to cast it at the feet of the Lord and we're going to say it's not me you are worthy Lord you are worthy so precious to think about this beloved brothers and sisters the thought that Apostle Paul encouraging Timothy in these two things here number one preach the word verses 1 to 4 number two Timothy fulfill your ministry verses 5 to 8 brothers and sisters I'm encouraging myself and encouraging you let's get encouraged by what Paul wrote to Timothy and let's ask the Lord to help us as well so we will be the kind of people that are being used by the Lord for his

service because I can tell you that life at best is very brief it's like a falling of a leaf soon will the master come and then we're going to look back and we will say I should have served him more I should have taught his word more I should have been faithful more while I'm here now in this world so may the Lord help us to do so