Come before Winter

2 Tim. 4:1-22

Paul’s last words beforehis death… 1. A charge given this young man. v.1 I charge thee therefore before God,

and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2. v.2 Preach the Word. “ preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3. Why? v.3 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;

V.4 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables

5. Watch, Endure Do Make full proof 5 But watch thou in all things, endure

afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Something is about to happen to Paul For I am now ready to be offered, and the

time of my departure is at hand.

The time of his execution is getting Close at hand.

Paul reflects upon the timehe has spent in service to Jesus 7 I have fought a good fight, I have

finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 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.

3 simple words

“Come before winter.” “Timothy, if you’re going to come at all, come now. Don’t wait. Don’t delay. I won’t be alive much longer. Come quickly, my friend. Come before winter.”

Why before winter?

Because when winter set in ... . . . the season for navigation closed in the

Mediterranean. It was dangerous for ships to venture at sea. If Timothy waits until winter . . . he must wait until spring. Paul has a feeling that he will not last thru the winter. For he says, "The time of my departure is at hand"

“Come Before Winter”

Vs. 9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me

Vs. 11 Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

V. 13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee,

21 Do thy diligence to come before winter.

A Sad Note

10 for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. 21 Do thy diligence to come before winter.

Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Urgency of Doing today what you should and not put it off….

Paul’s last recorded words are so much about people!

..Demas…having loved this present world. 2 Tim. 4:10

He thought of good friends that he had: Crescens, Titus, Tychicus ..people who are serving the Lord at

other places.

He is thankful for Luke who is with him now in Rome.

..He warns Timothy about Alexander the Coppersmith who had opposed Paul and done him much harm. He wanted this young Timothy to be aware of him..

But one thing he wanted dearly..To see Timothy and have his

cloke,his books and parchments next to

himone more time!

A great lesson for all ofus…Come Before Winter..

“So much to do, and so little time left to

Do it “ Irene Foy

Do it. Do it now.

Our Children… Be with them now. Spend Time with them now. Wintertime will come When they will not be home. Psa. 127:3-5 …A Wasted life… A young man whose parents divorced when he was 15. He began to drink heavily. Some old friends gave lots

of support: Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Bud Weiser. He finally came to himself…but it was too late for His children! Grown up…gone from home

Today..not tomorrow…not next week…not next year… 1. Come unto me Mtt. 11:28-30 2. Zaccheus : “Come down out of that

sycamore tree. I’m going to your house today>’

3. 2 Cor. 6:2 Behold , now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.

Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may never come.

Come Before Winter

An old preacher once said: If you can find one place where the Bible

says, “Come to Christ tomorrow” , then I will come down from the pulpit and never

preach again.

The Bible says today—not tomorrow!

For the clock of life is wound but once.And no one has the power,To tell just when the hand will stop,At late or early hour.

Now is the time we have.Live, love, toil, work with a will,Do not wait for tomorrow,For the clock may then be still.

Come before winter!

Life is about doing the right thing

And doing it at the right time!

The message of God is :

Take advantage of the important moments in life.

Don’t wait, assuming that there will be other times.

Maybe there will be, maybe there won’t!

We often have opportunities before us, but we don’t take advantage of them. We keep saying, “Someday”..but then someday never arrives.! Gal. 6:10

What do we need to do ‘beforewintertime?’ 1. Arise, and be baptized. Acts 22:16

2. I will arise and go to my father… Luke 15:18

3. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…Phil. 2:12

Look what Timothy is told:

1. Listen to God’s commands.. 2 Tim. 4:1 I charge you….Preach the Word 2. Be Watchful in all things. 2 Tim. 4:5 Watch thou in all things Endure afflictions Do the work God has called you for Make full proof of your ministry…Show that you

really are what God wants you to be!

3. Perhaps You have been unprofitable…now be Profitable.

Look at the change in John Mark! 2 Tim. 4:11 “Take Mark,and bring him With thee:for he is profitable to me for the

ministry. Cf. Acts 12:25 Mark had proven himself to Paul

4. Don’t let others discourage you… 2 Tim. 4:14,15 Alexander did Paul much evil…

the Lord reward him according to his works. Beware of him..he hath greatly withstood our words!...

5. Don’t try to get even with others who have hurt you.

2 Tim. 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me; but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge!

6. Wish others the best… 2 Tim. 4:22 ’The Lord Jesus Christ be with

thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Challenge for us all .. “Come Before Winter!” My words this morning are not intended to

cause us to • look back with remorse or regret . . . but rather

encourage us to . . . • look forward with anticipation & joy to the

“opportunities” Phil. 3:13-14 God blesses us with every day! All of us can think back on missed opportunities. Situations where we did not take full advantage of

building up “one another”

Be Faithful…I Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10

The message of 2 Tim. 4 is a call to faithfulness • Be a better disciple Gal. 2:20 • Be a better mom, dad, son, daughter,

grandparent , friend, Elder, Deacon,Preacher, Teacher…

Phil. 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…”

•

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of

Gold in pictures of silver!

William Tyndale

When William Tyndale was lying in prison waiting for death because he

dared to give the people the Bible in their own language It is a cold damp winter, and he writes a friend: “Send me, please, a warmer cap, something to

patch my leggings, a woolen shirt, and above all my

Hebrew Bible”

William Barclay

William Barclay “When they were up against it, and the chill breath of death was on them,

The great ones wanted more than anything else the Word of God

To put strength and courage into their souls”

Did Timothy make it before winter,and before Paul was offered? We don’t know…We are not told in the Bible. •Someone has said: When Timothy comes, He can go to prison where Paul is.. embrace him • place cloak around him • listen / encourage • offer the ministry of presence / “withness” • read to him the Scriptures • receive the legacy of Paul’s last counsel • perhaps walk w/him to the place of execution. We just do not know…but we know Paul truly wanted see him before he died!

The Reality of Time James 4:13-14

There are golden gates of opportunity opened wide this day . . .

A year from now, next August they will be forever shut. (Father, Brother)

There are voices - earnest, & affectionate . . . speaking today . . . . . . which a year from now will be silent. Do it Before winter or never!

Thomas Carlye at the death of his wife

In his diary he wrote . . . "Oh that I had you yet for five minutes by my side, that I . . . might tell you all“

"Cherish what is dearest while you have it near you, Wait not till it is far away. Blind and deaf that we are, O think, If thou yet love anybody living, wait not till death -- when it is too late."

Matt. 26:36-46 v. 41 “Watch and pray,” That ye enter not into temptation: the spirit

indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak!. Jesus in Gethsemane said, "Could you not watch with me one hour?“v,40 He came the third time to his disciples "Sleep on now and take your rest.“v.45 Never again could they watch with Jesus during

his supreme hour of agony.

I pray that the preaching of God’s word will move us to do what will make our hearts glad in years to come.

May it encourage us to do the important things now while we have opportunity.

• pick up that phone • compose that hand written note • write that email . . . • show that kindness • speak that appreciation

children are young only once (read, walk, play)

• go fishing with that grandchild . Be kind to your wife/husband.your children! Eph. 4:32 •

• sometimes we have to say “no to the good” to say “yes to the best!”

Remember: Acts 26:28

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Almost!

Scripture says: 2 Cor. 6:2 "Now is the acceptable time" "Now is the day of salvation”

Heb. 3:13-15

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Jesus…don’t delay…come unto me now…come before it is too late. ‘Come before Winter!”

Jesus Calling men and women, boys and girls to come

to him, “Come Before Winter". Come before it is too

late! “”Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavey

laden..and I will give you rest ..Matt.11:28

The message of God is :

Rev. 22 : 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Come before the heart is cold! Come before desire has failed! Come before life is over and you stand before

God to give an account . . . of the use you have made of the opportunities which by His grace

He has granted you!

Come before Winter

Come to Jesus Christ before

It is too late!!!