A Charge to Reach All People is a sermon teaching us that our labor on this Earth will not be in vain. If we keep the faith, we will earn a crown in Heaven.
In II Timothy 4, Paul gives a charge to Timothy as he nears the end of his life. The book of II Timothy is known as Paul’s swan song because it was the last book Paul had written before his life ended. Paul wanted to prepare the next generation for a better ministry than what he had. Paul is reminding Timothy of what he should do and to continue to do things that are right.
All people need to hear the gospel, and we are charged to preach God’s Word. Paul emphasizes that we need to reach lost people. Written about 67-68 A.D., Paul makes suggestions that can be applied to the time period we live in now. In the first four verses, Paul is earnestly testifying, charging Timothy of all he had previously written to him as a foundation for all that the scriptures entail.
The First Charge
Paul charges Timothy before God and Jesus Christ who judges the quick and the dead and will come again. Paul is charging Timothy to preach the Word, to tell the divine truth, because he was a pastor at the church of Ephesus. Always be equipped, ready to share the gospel with someone, not knowing when it is going to happen. When opportunities arise, share the Word. When opportunities lack, go and find them.
There are times when hindrances or embarrassments are not confined to just in church. Some people think the only time to share the gospel is when you are at the pulpit preaching. Always preach to all people; not just the preacher but all Christians should reach out to people. Reprove or admonish when needed. Some people get offended at preaching, but it is part of the council of God and pastors are required to tell a fault. The sin needs to be addressed to stop it. Rebuke or forbid even if people do not want to be told. Rebuke or tell people when they are wrong. Exhort or help people to turn from their sin, pointing out what is wrong and how to get right. Do these things with patience. Pastors are commanded to preach on these things.
Some preachers prefer to preach on topics that don’t offend anyone, but the bible as a whole should be preached. Pastors must rebuke and correct. This must be done because the time will come when people will not endure sound, healthy doctrine. There will be people that will give you an unhealthy doctrine. Those that turn away from the Word of God because of their own lusts will seek teachers that preach what they want to hear, making them feel good but never satisfied. Because they turned away from the truth, they will be turned to fables and myths, going into apostasy. The first charge Paul has is to preach and teach the gospel even if people are offended and turn away from the truth.
The Second Charge
The second charge from Paul is to be watchful. Be aware of what is going on in the world. People will watch you if you are Christlike and either turn to you or turn away from you. Paul instructs to endure hardships.
The Christian life isn’t going to come without some struggles and hardships, afflictions will occur. All should do the work of proclaiming the gospel. It doesn’t stop at the church house it goes everywhere through the world house. A visiting evangelist preaches and teaches the gospel, but the work still continues by the people long after the evangelist leaves. Accomplish the goals of your ministry. Bring the ministry to its fullest potential. There are ministries in the church that has room to grow. Do the work that’s needed with the Lord’s help. So, Paul charges first to preach the gospel, and second, to be watchful.
Paul’s Farewell
Paul’s next message to Timothy is his farewell. Paul writes what people normally say at the end of their time on Earth. These would be the last words Paul would write before his martyrdom in Rome around 67 A.D. by beheading. He was ready to be offered up for the service of his Lord. Paul had endured many persecutions during his ministry and said he would not have changed anything and was ready to be offered. Paul knew it was his time to depart this Earth. Paul’s death was one of the first by Roman Emperors. But there would be ten major waves of Roman persecutions of Christians, the first started by Nero and the last and most severe during the reign of Diocletian.
All these persecutions took place after Paul had passed away. Despite his own persecutions, Paul said that he was ready to be offered. Paul’s time of departure was at hand. We do not know when our time will come. Will we be able to say as Paul has, “I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” We must keep the faith, the one true faith. Paul had won many spiritual battles for God and has completed life’s race.
There is laid up a crown of righteousness for Paul, one of five crowns the bible mentions can be achieved by a Christian. The crown of righteousness is for those who love Christ’s appearing, those who are faithful to Him. Each Christian can get a crown to cast at Jesus’s feet. Paul was content to die in the manner he did. He had spread the gospel throughout. Paul gives us a charge to share the Word of God and to be watchful in all things. He reassures us, our labor on this Earth will not be in vain for those who keep the faith. Life will bring us hardships and struggles but we must press on and run the race until the race of life is over.
Run the race and continue on until that last breath has been given. We are charged to reach all people and when we do that, it will be a life well-lived.
A Charge to Reach All People sermon starts with verses from II Timothy 4:1-8:
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 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
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;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
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.
Also verses from II Timothy 2:3:
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 12:1-2:
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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About the Speaker
Rev. Christopher K. Lewis
Assistant to the Pastor
Christopher K. Lewis is the Assistant to the Senior Pastor of West Park Baptist Church. Rev. Lewis helps the senior pastor with various church duties and guides others to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.