2 Timothy 4:1–8 (ESV)
Preach the Word
4
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you,
always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought
the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Paul maybe recounting Timothy’s ordination vows, and it is a good thing for all pastors to stop and review their own ordination vows. Sometimes a pastor can get so caught up in busy work that he omits his
calling as a pastor. Let’s review the basics that Paul is point out to Timothy. “2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” Paul then warns
about the coming times, which I honestly think we have fallen pray. Listen to his warning: “3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their
own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” I see a lot of preachers on TV that are preaching
what itching ears want to hear, but not what they need to hear.” One such preacher is in my old hometown of Houston. He has great speaking abilities, but his message is wrong. He does not teach salvation by grace, but he is more of
a Tony Robbins with a Bible saying you can do it! No Joel Osteen, your message is backwards and wrong... you can’t do it... Jesus did it for you. The Bible is not a self help that teaches you to overcome... you are saved only through the
blood of Christ on the cross who died for the forgiveness of your sins. You can not earn your way to heaven or work your way there. The Bible is very clear: Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
I pray: O Lord, help me to preach your Word in truth and purity. Let me never give people the idea that they can earn their way or set things right with God. It is God who makes you right! Help
me to teach Salvation in a clear message, that we are saved by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Amen.