Preach the Word

2 Timothy is the last letter that Paul wrote (4:6). It is written to encourage Timothy. He is the successor to Paul and he must take up the battle that Paul is soon to leave. Paul charges him before the court of heaven. There is one dominating imperative: preach the Word (2:2). This is an enduring and unchanging charge that remains and must not be tampered with. We just celebrated the 500th anniversary of the Reformation last year. The Reformation was a resurgence of the preaching of the Word. We need to pray God will give a fresh Reformation because preaching has fallen upon hard times. People now want entertainment instead. You need to value the preaching of the Word of God and the preacher God has given you. The preaching of the Word is indispensable.There are two main facts that are vitally important to bring before you here:

1. We are to preach the Word because of the existence of apostacy
   Paul states: I charge thee therefore. The 'therefore' points to the apostacy Paul has just spoken about. The faith is under attack and people are departing from it. Paul speaks about the development of apostacy as he says difficult seasons will come (3:1, 13). There will eventually come an apostacy that is unparalleled and signifies the end (2 Thess 2:3). Paul discusses features that mark human behavior when apostasy comes (3:2-5). There will be corruption in behavior and doctrine. Preaching can conquer apostasy.

2. We are to preach the word with confidence
   Timothy can have confidence because of the nature of scripture (3:15-17). it is inspired by God. it is preserved by God. it is sufficient for the people of God. It had power in Timothy's life.