Text: 2 Timothy 4:2-8
Intro:
Notice with me what the Apostle Paul says in v. 6.
Paul makes this statement at the end of his life.
Just before he was to be beheaded for the cause of Christ.
The word “departure” makes one think of a ship ready to set sail.
Paul was saying that the end of his life was near.
However, his ship was ready to set sail.
He was ready to depart this life and go to the next.
Why?
Because Paul knew that he had some eternal cargo on board to take home to heaven.
Just look at what Paul had to say about what was waiting for him when he got to the shores of heaven in v. 8.
Let take a look of some of the cargo that Paul had on board to take home to heaven.
I. Paul’s Cargo
Suffering –
The word of God says in 2 Tim, 2:12, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him”
Paul certainly suffered for Christ.
See 2 Cor. 11:21-30
See 2 Cor. 4:8-11.
Paul said in Phil. 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
Souls –
The Apostle Paul was a soul winner.
The Bible says, “he that winneth souls is wise”
Paul would be taking a lot of souls that he had won to the Lord to heaven.
Notice with me what he called those he had won to the Lord in Thessalonica.
See 1 Thess. 2:19-20.
V. 19 – “our hope, or crown of rejoicing”
V. 20 – “our glory and joy”
The Bible witnesses to the fact that the Apostle Paul established many New Testament churches in most of the known world at the time.
This is evidenced by the Book of Acts and the many epistles or letters Paul wrote to encourage and exhort the churches that he had established.
Self- Control
Paul lived a life of self control.
Notice the statement that he made in 1 Cor. 9:25-27.
That Paul lived a life of self control is further evidence by what he had to say:
1 Cor. 6:12, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
1 Cor. 10:23, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”
Service
See Acts 20:17-27
v. 19 – “Serving the Lord”
v. 20 – “kept nothing back that was profitable”
v. 20 – “shewed and taught” the word of God
v. 21 – “testifying” Paul continual testified how to be saved.
vs. 22 & 23 – tells us that Paul risked life for the cause of Christ.
v. 24 – “none of these things move me”
v. 24 – “neither count I my life dear unto myself”
Paul is saying that he did not let anything stop him even if it meant risking his own life to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
v. 26 – Paul’s conscience is clear.
He did not have the blood of anyone on his hands.
He took every opportunity given him to tell people how to be saved by the grace of God.
v. 27 – Paul told it like it was.
He held nothing back in his preaching.
He preach all of the Bible not just the stuff people liked to hear.
Spend & Be Spent
Paul was a spend and be spent Christian.
See 2 Cor. 12:15
“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”
Notice Paul says “I will very gladly spend”
Paul practiced what he preached.
He was a cheerful giver.
Did you know that the Apostle Paul never went full time.
He often had to work to support himself and not be a burden to some of the churches.
Especially to the cheap skate Christians that made up the church of Corinthians.
He was a tent maker by trade.
The Apostle Paul gave of us own material possessions and finances to further the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That’s the Spend
Besides that he gave of himself physically and emotionally to the point of death for the cause of Christ.
That’s the Spent
Paul knew very well what it was like to be used and abused by other Christians.
Despite this he still said, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”
What a statement!
The more he gave of himself the less he was loved.
Beside all this, the Apostle Paul wrote most of the New Testament.
Yes, my friend Paul was ready to depart.
His ship was ready to sail.
II. How About You?
Is your ship ready to set sail?
Do you have any eternal cargo on board to take to heaven’s shores?
You may say, “Oh, I have plenty of time before it is my time to depart.”
My dear friend we are not promise tomorrow.
None of us know when we will breath our last breath.
David said, “there is but a step between me and death.” 1 Sam. 20:3.
The Word of God tells us in Proverbs 27:1, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
What cargo do you have on board
Have you laid up any treasure in heaven?
What have you done with the money God gave you?
Was any of it spent on supporting a good local bible believing church?
Was any of it spent on supporting missions?
Have you led anyone to the Lord?
When is the last time you handed out a gospel tract?
When is the last time you gave some one your testimony?
How Jesus saved you and what your life was before Jesus and the change that has taken place since.
When is the last time you stood for the things of God?
When the last time you had some slam a door in your face for trying to witness to them about Christ?
Do people know where you stand on –
Prayer in School & the ten commandments
Homosexuality
Porno
Abortion on demand
Adultery and fornication
Support of Israel
Are you a spend and be spent Christian?
Do you give gladly of your material resources and of yourself physically and emotionally to further the gospel of Christ?
Would there be enough evidence in a court of law to convict you being a Christian.
Conclusion:
My friend if you have not started already then today is time to start putting some eternal cargo on board your ship.
So when your time comes “Your Ship Will Be Ready To Sail!”