0:02 This weekend wasn't long enough. We blinked, and here we are. It is such a joy to see you. It is such a joy to see the wider Maranatha community here to be with us for this Lord's Day service. As most of you are aware, we spend our time together this weekend to explore the amazing legacy and life of the great apostle Paul.
0:27 And I believe it is fitting that as we've come to this final moment of our conference, though our time in these past few meetings have only scratched the service of this man's legacy, It's fitting to consider some of his final thoughts from the final epistle that the Holy Spirit has preserved for us to consider. And you know that epistle very well, I'm sure. It is the book of second Timothy. And I invite you to turn there with me briefly. It is in this letter that we have one of the most astounding faith installing, joy exalting crescendos in all of the Bible.
1:10 Most of us know it by heart where Paul, near the end of this letter, tells us by the spirit in second Timothy four seven, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Can you think of better words to be your final recorded words on this side of eternity?
1:49 What more needs to be said? Why would you need to add anything further? And yet to our surprise, the Holy Spirit shows us that there are 14 verses that follow this incredible pronouncement. And if you just look at it, you can see it. Right?
2:10 Beginning in verse nine, and we see these names mentioned. Name upon name. And then you come even to verse 19, and what do you find? More names. What does the holy spirit have to teach us?
2:25 These inclusions. I believe this is a glance that the spirit of God desires to give concerning Paul's dynamic relationships, Paul's incredible love that he had for the people of God. Let's read some of these names. Look look at verse nine. Do your best to come to me soon, for Demas in love with this present world has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.
2:52 Christians has gone to Galatia. Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
3:05 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Karpus at Troas, also the books and above all the parchments. Look at verse 19. Greek Prisca and Aquila in a household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus who is ill at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter.
3:24 Eubelus sends greetings to you as do Putins and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. You would think that this letter will come to a full stop what we just read earlier. I fought the good fight.
3:43 I have finished the race. Right? I've kept the faith. Yet, in the mind of God, the wisdom of the spirit, we get a glimpse. We get a glimpse of Paul and what he thought about near the end of his life.
4:00 And it's because I believe the Holy Spirit wants to show us that the genuine Christian life from beginning to end is experienced with and defined by the intricacy of relationships. Paul loved God. And because Paul loved God, Paul loved God's people. And Paul proved to us this weekend that it is absolutely impossible to claim to serve God and yet not open your life to serving his people. And that way of life opens up our souls to one of the greatest joys that we can experience as well as some of the most painstaking aches that we can undergo.
4:52 Paul proves that by how he mentions these names. And as much as he was compelled in his final recorded words to ensure of the emotional, physical, more importantly, the spiritual well-being of some of the people he knew. I mean, this man was an expert at remembering names. Right? And he he could he could recall some of the things that some of these brethren were going through, and he would check up on them.
5:18 And despite the selflessness, we see here Paul also making personal request. He makes these wishes, and there is one particular wish that is tucked perfectly in between the final list of names in this letter. So look here with me at verse 21. He says to Timothy, do your best to come before winter. The Bible doesn't waste any words.
5:49 The Holy Spirit doesn't waste any real estate in the scriptures. Paul tells Timothy, oh, do your best to come to me before winter. And this was an appeal that he made throughout this letter. He says in the beginning of this book, I long to see you. Look at verse nine here in the same chapter.
6:08 Do your best to come to me soon. This man yearned and longed for the personal company of his spiritual son, and he puts a time stamp. He puts this urgency on the matter, come before winter. Why did Paul say that? I wanna present to you three brief reasons why.
6:30 The first one is because of the inconvenience of winter. All you have to do is read the latter portion of the book of acts to see how difficult it was to travel during the winter months. And so Paul is reminding Timothy, look, you're gonna have a much more graceful journey if you just come sooner than later. But it wasn't just the timing of the seasons. It was the timing of Paul's life.
6:53 The sand and the hourglass of his days was dwindling. His departure was near. His graduation into glory was soon. And so he tells Timothy, listen. It's either before winter or never in a sense.
7:11 You can't afford to delay this, Timothy. I need to see you. I want to see you. And before I get to the third reason why Paul mentions the winter, allow me to pause here and provide a universal principle from this command. This is this is specific to, yes, Timothy and to Paul's experience, but, oh, is there a theme of urgency in it?
7:35 What Paul proves to us here is that in our brief lives, there are opportunities that arise that cannot be delayed without the risk of forfeiting them altogether. And that is certainly true when it comes to the call for salvation. There is a spiritual winter. You know? There is a time limit.
8:00 You know? And the spirit of God in his word never ever ever suggest that we can postpone repentance or that we can stall in our surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Last night, there was a call for people to be saved, and it's very possible that people even in that call delayed it. And by God's grace, you woke up this morning and you're breathing. But I wanna let you know, as one person word you hear often in church anymore.
8:43 But there will be many who will be in hell because they delayed in dying to self and receiving the free gift of salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. And this is a tendency that is found in the earlier portions of our Bible. You remember that stubborn man, Pharaoh? Do you not? And we think Pharaoh was uniquely stubborn.
9:08 Perhaps you can make that case, but I believe pharaoh is a reflection on millions, specifically in this matter of procrastination. And you see it. You see it so clear, specifically with the plague of the frogs. And you you don't have to turn there, but listen to these words unless you wanna see it with your own eyes because it's almost hard to believe that while the frogs were sitting in the beds and in people's pots and in people's sandals and in their purses, Finally, Pharaoh comes to Moses in Exodus eight eight, and we're told here, then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, plead with the Lord to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord? Moses said to Pharaoh, be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile?
10:09 Pause. Moses is saying, when do you want it? When would you like the frogs to stop harassing you? What would you think would be the sane answer? No.
10:22 Why are you even suggesting another day? Let's get this thing going. And you can just imagine as he's saying that, the frogs are there, crogging, but look what he says in verse 10. And he said, tomorrow tomorrow, Moses said, be it is as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the lord our god. Tomorrow.
10:52 Do you know how many people I've met who said tomorrow? Jesus told people to repent and believe today. Paul emphasized that. And whenever anyone tried to follow Jesus on their terms, they were never taken seriously by the Lord. We have to understand here that if you're in this place and you have not yet given your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, do so before winter.
11:29 Not literally, of course, before your time runs out. But what about the believer? Does this principle of taking advantage of a reasonable time apply even to the Christian? Absolutely. And in so many ways.
11:44 There are various examples of this in the bible. Let's consider one of the strongest charges from the wise words of king Solomon. You know this very well in Ecclesiastes twelve one. Remember also your creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near, which you will say, I have no pleasure in them. What what's happening here?
12:04 You have solemn near the end of his sermon. It's really a sermon. And the Holy Spirit turns the attention to the young reader, and he tells the young man, he tells the young woman, remember your creator in the days of your youth. Why do you think that is a special temptation for young people? Because in their strength, because in the sense of all the opportunities that lie ahead of them, their vigor, their energy, They face the greater temptation.
12:32 I'm not considering eternal matters. God, his glory, even serving him. And countless people even bargain with God in their faith and determined that they will give the leftovers of their years. But even the world recognizes the preciousness of your youth. I'm talking to the young people today as though I'm old or anything.
12:54 But I'm talking to the young people here. Listen very carefully. The world understands that there's a segment of your life that should be used in a special way. They tell you to study. They tell you to travel the world.
13:08 They tell you to invest. They tell you to take risk. But, oh, where are the teachers? Where are the parents who can look their children dead in the eye and say, would you give your best to God? Give the best years to God.
13:27 And Solomon later on in this chapter gives his reason why before the sun sets on your strength, before you accumulate growing responsibilities through the natural courses of life, before you come into contact with a failing body that betrays you year after year after year, remember your creator in the days of your youth. Serve God, if I may say, before winter, before it gets harder. And it's important for all of us to seize the opportunity of every season in life to give our best to the Lord Jesus Christ, but that's not the main point of the message. Though it can be a message on its own. I told you that there are three reasons I believe Paul told Timothy to come to him before winter.
14:18 The first is because of the obvious ease of spring, summer, maybe fall. Secondly, there is an urgency concerning Paul's life. The days of his life were ticking. But lastly, Paul saying come to me before winter is connected to what he said a few verses earlier. So I hope you're still in second Timothy four.
14:37 Look with me here again at verse 13. We read through it. I wonder how many who have read these verses didn't consider the awesome implications of what he commands in verse 13. He says here, when you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Paul had personal belongings, and he desired it before a certain time.
15:13 And you might be wondering, what in the world does that have to do with me? All scripture is breathed out by God, and all scripture is useful for your instruction and your transformation even when Paul says, bring me my jacket, my books, and especially my parchments. I present to you today in this brief message four lessons from Paul's request for his cloak, his books, and his parchments. If you're a note taker, here it comes. Number one, Paul's request shows the reality of Christian relationships.
15:59 So we see this man here making this request to Timothy, and later on with a heart free from bitterness, he reveals something quite sad. In verse 16, he says that no one, no person attended to him at his first defense. So when he went to court, because he's in jail while he's writing this, not one believer came to his side. Not one Christian testified of his character or his innocence. And that news was especially disheartening since it is believed that this epistle was written in Rome.
16:38 And Paul wrote a letter to Roman Christians, did he not? Paul even encountered these Christians and stayed with them for a few years. And we read this in in the past few days together of how Paul longed to go to Rome, and that prayer was answered at the end of the book of acts. And so I'm not gonna turn there, but if you need a reference, it's in acts twenty eight fourteen and fifteen where Paul finally gets to Rome and he was given royal treatment. People traveled from miles to meet him, and they escorted him into their land.
17:14 That's what people did for kings when they came into their presence. Paul received kingly respect. And yet now you come to the end of this letter and you get the sense that the honor he received when he arrived at Rome is nowhere to be found as he was ready to go from Rome into glory. The people that Paul never forgot always remembered seem to have abandoned him. So much so, never mind his first defense, but by way of inference, we can also say that no one thought to provide this spiritual giant a garment as the seasons were changing.
18:03 I wonder why nobody in Rome ever thought maybe we should bring Paul the proper clothing as the air got chillier and as people were preparing for the aggressive weather. Here's Paul in a frigid, dark, wet dungeon, and he has to make a long distance call for a jacket to be delivered to him. And throughout this letter, what you really see here is that the apostle's account of his friendships and ministry partners is somewhat of a model of what every single Christian can expect in their own journey with others. I want you to see here quickly that the attitudes and the actions that he brings up about certain individuals is almost a preview of general realities that you and I can expect as we seek to obey the Lord and walk hand in hand with other blood bought Christians. So let me give you just a quick surface level understanding of that.
19:06 Again, look at verse nine. Do your best to come to me soon. He's talking to Timothy. So let me tell you this, that there are gonna be Christians in your life who bring you great joy and comfort. That's a gift from God.
19:17 Timothy was a gift to Paul. But then he noticed here in verse 10 that Demas, in love with the present world, walks away from the cause of Christ, and you better believe it too that you might see Christians that once served with you and were in leadership who will also abandon the cause of Christ. We're seeing that more and more, especially with leadership in the church in the West. But we also see here that he mentions interesting characters like Christians and Titus, showing us that not everybody in our lives will depart because they abandon the faith. Some will be sent elsewhere to serve God in other areas.
19:55 And that's still painful. Right? Because we wanna hold on to all the people that we know and love. But Paul shows here that even in providence, some other believers will leave you not because they're leaving God or the cause of Christ, but because they're serving him elsewhere. You have here Luke verse 11.
20:10 Luke alone is with me. Isn't it a joy to know that there are some Christians in your life that will stick with you until the end? They will be with you until the end. And there will be guys like Mark. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me from in ministry.
20:28 That wasn't true always for Mark. Mark disappointed Paul a lot. And there will be Christians in your life who will disappoint you. They will. But like Paul, be ready to forgive them when they repent.
20:45 There are also be men like Alexander the coppersmith in verse 14 who don't in moments of weakness hurt you or betray you or disappoint you, but intentionally will seek out your harm. But don't be mistaken here. Paul is not, fishing for pity, especially in this letter, because this shabby clothed man reveals to us a secret. He reveals to us the best relationship, a relationship that will never fail you, a relationship that is capable of sustaining you until the end. Look here at what he says at verse 17, but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me.
21:32 Some walked, some stayed, some were sporadic, some were inconsistent, and Paul ends his thoughts on relationships by mentioning his best friend. The Lord stood by me. The Lord strengthened me. You think Paul was just saying random things here? Is he just trying to sound poetic?
21:51 No. This man experienced it. That's one of the glories of the Christian faith. Your savior, as splendid and as brilliant as he is, walks with you. And even though you live this journey long enough and you see crazy things from people that you thought would never be able to perform, All that does is provide a backdrop for Christ to shine all the more beautiful and glorious.
22:18 I'll tell you this, walking with the Lord for ten something years, that with all the ups and downs, one thing has been sure, Christ is more attracted to me than ever. Christ has proven to be more faithful than ever, and Paul is expressing that here. Paul's request for a cloak exposes the reality, the sobering reality of Christian relations. But number two, Paul's request reveals that servants of God are not spared from the natural courses of life. So look, if if you're not careful, you think that men even like Paul, spiritual giants, trailblazers, get special treatment in some way, and that they get to escape common protocols and discomforts or delays.
23:06 And serving the Lord does not promise that. Serving the Lord does not promise that we do not pursue things through the normal processes of life. Here's Paul, and he he in this letter, asks something that a normal person would ask. Hey. Can you grab my jacket?
23:27 Can can you can you make sure that you bring from Carpus something that belongs to me? And it does us good to remember that men of God are men still. It's no different for Paul here, because he's doing something that we can relate to. Men of the spiritual caliber. And I thought to myself when reading Paul asking for a jacket, could not have God materialized one out of thin air for him?
23:54 Could not have God defied the natural law and warmed his body while he stayed there isolated? Could not have God sent a vision like he did to Ananias at Paul's conversion and said, hey. Listen. Your your apostle, my servant, is freezing. Get up, take this jacket, and go to him.
24:17 Could've got he could've done that and much more. Just like God can do many things, but often doesn't use the miraculous. Here's a hint of that. Look at verse 20 in your bibles. The last part, and I left Trophimus who was ill at Miletus.
24:40 Paul saw miracles. Paul laid I mean, never mind laying hands. There are people who saw the power surging from Paul that they allowed his skin to touch handkerchiefs. They brought it to their sick and they were healed. That's the kind of guy we're talking about.
24:52 And what does Paul confess here? Trophimus? I left him ill at my leaders. Couldn't you have healed him? Although, this is a sobering reality for those who claim that every time you pray for healing, it has to happen.
25:08 If it doesn't, then your faith is weak. Also, is Paul's faith weak? No. Paul didn't perform miracles on demands. Paul proves here that he, just like you, depended upon the sovereignty and the providence of God.
25:24 And, yes, he believed for the best, but he also trusted in the wisdom of God. And there are times when the Lord can heal in an instant. I believe he can do it. I've seen him do it. Paul's seen him do it many times.
25:38 And there are also testimonies of God preserving the footwear and the clothing of his people, namely the people of Israelites. Have you ever considered that miracle in the Exodus? When you think about the miracles of the Exodus, what do you think about? The manna coming from heaven, the water gushing from that rock, the miracles that were so unique to that journey. And I never hear this miracle being brought up when the Exodus is studied.
26:06 It's one of my favorite miracles. Here's the reference. Let me read it to you from Deuteronomy chapter 29 verse five. The Lord says, I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.
26:26 That's a miracle. Imagine not having to change your shoes for decades, not having to worry to buy anything else for your back. God even says, I preserved your clothing during that whole wilderness journey. Could God have provided Paul a cloak? Surely.
26:48 But he doesn't. In the concluding chapter of this book, we learn that sometimes sickness stays. And sometimes you and I have to endure inconveniences like Paul, who was cold and could have used a miracle with his raiment like the Israelites did with their clothing. Thirdly, Paul's request confirms that true contentment is found in Christ alone. Don't allow yourself to miss the concrete joy and satisfaction that Paul exudes even in this request.
27:26 You're saying, what do you mean? Notice again in verse 13, he says, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas. You know what Paul could have said? Timothy, on your way to me, can you stop by the outlet mall and buy me a new jacket? Paul was very low maintenance.
27:51 Paul, even in other instances, shares that he could have made demands as an apostle. He could have got royal treatment and asked for it, and he could have gotten it, but he refused to do that. Paul was a true servant. I remember hearing this from somebody, and I'll try to spare the details, but I'll give you a general idea because I believe so many are so far removed from apostolic Christianity. This individual told me that they were hosting an event for, a specific holiday of the year, and so they reached out to a worship team that they had never met, but were hoping they would come to help make this event an exciting one, a worshipful one.
28:30 And he told me that this worship team came back with a document listing all their requirements if they were to be part of this event. What do you think those requirements were? Are you I'm not making this up. I'm what you're about to hear, I'm not making this up. We want these specific colored m and m's in the green room and also these specific brands of potato chips, and those are only two of many.
29:00 Sounds like apostolic Christianity. Right? Sounds like something Paul would do. Right? Bring me the cloak that I left.
29:13 Why why was Paul's cloak left? Why didn't he bring it with him? Have you read this man's life? It's so unpredictable. One day he's here.
29:22 The next day he's there. One day he's stoned. The next day he seems to have a private resurrection. He's just everywhere. The rhythm the rhythm of his life I mean, he never knew the comfort of a routine.
29:34 And so just as he was spontaneous, you can imagine what his possessions were like, where they were found, where they were left behind. This man was sold out for Christ. And yet we see here that in his request, he learned to be satisfied with the lot that God had ordained from. And the beauty the beauty of that is that there is a wonderful calmness that you enjoy and inherit with Christ centered satisfaction. It's helpful to realize that this is not something that you and I as Christians automatically learn.
30:12 It's not like that contentment is realized the moment you come to Christ. Even Paul himself confessed that it wasn't something that he knew right away. You remember what he told the Philippians in Philippians four eleven? He says, not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Notice his words carefully, I have learned.
30:36 It took time for me to understand it. It took time for me to grasp it. It took time for me, trial and error to realize that in the end, really, it comes down to Christ who brings permanent contentment. Whether I have the newest or not, it doesn't matter. Whether I get a new cloak or it's my old cloak, that doesn't determine the strength of my joy.
31:02 And I argue that the only way you can grow in this quality of contentment is by one avenue, experiencing the fulfillment that comes from personal fellowship with Christ. And Jeremiah Burroughs, a Puritan who wrote the rare jewel of Christian contentment would agree. I rarely do this, but from time to time I love to quote some of these men, and I believe his words are fitting for this time. Listen to what he says. Quote, contentment is not by addition, but by subtraction.
31:39 Seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you are satisfied only with Christ brings contentment. My brethren, the reason why you have not got contentment in the things of the world is not because you have not enough of them. That is not the reason. But the reason is because they are not things proportionable to that immortal soul of yours that is capable of God himself.
32:12 And that's why it's like a vacuum in there. You stuff it, and you think it's gonna stay, and it disappears because that soul of yours was made to know the one who made it. Paul, at the end of his life, shows that you can know contentment in Jesus till your final moments. Lastly, Paul's request defines what we should treasure more than anything. The cloak is not the solitary item on Paul's mind.
32:53 He mentions books. And he says above all the parchments. We're not told what content the books and the parchments contained, so we are limited to our sanctified imagination. But, some would say that these books may have included blank materials for Paul to write more things. That could be so.
33:15 Some say that there were copies of his writing so that he can spread them and share them to others or plan to preserve them in some way. Some also believe that Paul being the genius that he was, as you see in Acts, he was acquainted and educated with philosophers and poets, and so that was the genre that he was asking for when demanding for his books. We're not we're not certain, but we have more confidence. There is more consensus about the parchments. The parchments which were made of more expensive material were very likely copies of the Hebrew scriptures and very likely records of the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
34:01 And if that is true, then what a thing Paul does and making that the emphasis of his request. Look at it again. Bring the cloak that I left with Karpus at Troas, also the books, and above all, above all the parchments. So Paul here, would have been okay, I think, if Timothy had forgotten the cloak. See, the cloak would be used to preserve the warmth of his body, but the parchments would have been used to kindle his soul.
34:34 Are we all that surprised that this man wanted the word of God in such confining, intense circumstances? That doesn't shock me at all. And although Paul felt a chilling breeze from the lack of support from his companions, he knew that there was a fellowship that he could know, the greatest fellowship, as he took the word of God and ate them and breathe them in and meditated on them. Above all, bring me the parchments. I've heard from some that they can't get themselves to read the Bible because they're not readers.
35:20 And from my humble observation, most of those people who say that are also experts in politics, and they read all the articles they can get their hands on, and they've memorized sports statistics. And can I ask you a question if you struggle to read your Bible? Let me provide an illustration. Imagine a deceased multibillionaire who for some reason included your name in their will along with the contingencies for accessing their estates and their treasures, what would you do with such a document once it arrived at your front door? I I know.
35:56 I'm not a prophet. You would set aside time. You don't wear glasses, but you're gonna wear glasses. You might even hire a lawyer to help you interpret the legal jargon. Why?
36:09 Because you want to make sure that if your name is on this thing, that you don't miss out on the least of the rewards that have been preserved for you. Right? And yet God gave you a document intended for you with treasures and rewards beyond this life. And I wonder how many of us are eager to discover, not just some, not just the surface level, not just the first few pages, but all that God has promised you with all the contingencies that are required for us to walk in them. Is that true of you?
36:46 Above all, give me the parchments. Above all, give me the word of God. This is an example that this man sets. The Greek word for above all there is chiefly, most of all, above all. You see, Timothy could have forgotten the cloak.
37:06 He could have forgotten the books. But as long as he did not leave behind the parchments. And if Timothy did not have room to bring all the items, then bring the parchments. I'm willing to face this winter without my cloak, but don't leave behind the bible. You say, why are you telling me this?
37:27 Because if you're here at the beginning of the conference, you know how we opened up. This man dared to say, imitate me as I imitate Christ. Imitate not just my actions, not just my attitudes, imitate my appetites. And it's so obvious here, is it not? We've been challenged these past few days in seeing Paul's love for people, but can I add another challenge to you?
37:52 Consider and reflect on his love for the sacred writings. I want you to leave this conference with an insatiable desire for the word of God. This book, every page of it breathes, speaks. And God can use this book to speak to you in ways as though he is speaking to you audibly. It's amazing what he has given to us.
38:23 What visual are we left as I conclude today about this man Paul as we've been studying him? To the natural mind, what we find perhaps is a lonely worn out man who is in a foul dungeon awaiting his unjust execution, eagerly expecting the speedy arrival of his spiritual son, hopefully, to bring with him very simple things. Not many possessions left in Paul's name. And those who do not have the eyes of faith might look at this man and be sad for him. That would perhaps be the thoughts of some.
39:03 You you have to remember who Paul was before he followed Christ. He was a man of great repute. Saul of Tarsus, the revered Pharisee. It's very likely that he was a wealthy man. It was very likely that wherever he stepped foot into, he demanded the reverence of everybody in that place.
39:21 And this is what he has come to as a follower of Jesus Christ. See, here's how the natural mind would think. This is what you get for following an invisible messiah? But you cannot look at this with the eyes of the flesh. You have to see it the way Paul saw himself.
39:41 You might see a dignified man to a despised man. You might see a cold man, a lonely man, but Paul in his final moments instead invokes us to behold a man who was imprisoned, yes, but was not shackled by sin or unforgiveness. Because the same people that he mentioned that hurt him and betrayed him and left him, he says, may the Lord not hold it against them in the very same chapter. You might see a man here who have lost the loyalty and the respect of even even Christians, but I see a man who is experiencing the unbroken faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ in his life. You might see a man who who is pathetically pathetically poor in this world, but this man was also rich.
40:32 Rich in love. Rich in contentment. And, oh, very shortly after this, he would be clothed with eternal robes and an eternal crown and enjoying the eternal fellowship of the master that he loved up to his dying breath. Bring the cloak that I left with Karpus at Troas, also the books, and above all, the parchments. Let's pray.
41:15 Lord, we thank you that you've allowed us in these past few days to study someone that you intended to be studied. Lord, we thank you that every bit, every morsel of the Bible is pregnant with practical truth. And, Lord, we've got a glimpse of that today. We give you glory for that. We give you thanks for that.
41:39 Lord, help us remember these truths. Help us to realize not to be cynical, but help us to realize the reality of Christian relationships that we're gonna know the good and the bad, but ultimately we have you. Lord, help us realize that as servants of God, we are subject to the natural courses of life. Not every day is going to be a miracle, and that's okay. Help us remember to trust you in the mundane.
42:13 Lord, help us remember also that there is true contentment in Christ alone. And if we find ourselves itchy and unstable, always looking for the newest, always looking for the best, help us remember that contentment is not by addition, but subtraction. And lastly, Lord, help us treasure the word of God. Lord, your word says, I will run-in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart. So, Lord, we pray that you enlarge our hearts for the scriptures this day.
42:52 And we believe that as we pray these things, you will indeed help us. As you strengthen Paul, strengthen each of us. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Can we stand and worship the king of kings and the lord of lords?
