2 Timothy 4:16-22 – Closing Words

Paul had been called to appear before the emperor, upon his appeal to Caesar, but no man stood with him, to plead his cause, to bear witness of him, or to encourage and strengthen him, but all deserted him. There were many Christians in Rome, but they were weak, and when it came to the danger of suffering with Paul, they ran away. But Paul doesn’t hold it against them, and he prays that God will forgive them. He knows that there is a difference between sinning maliciously and sinning out of weakness.

God stood by Paul and gave him extraordinary wisdom and courage to enable him to speak and preach the gospel. The emperor himself and many great men heard the gospel who would never have heard it otherwise. Paul knows that God, who delivered him in that situation, will deliver him to heaven, and for this he gives glory to God, rejoicing in hope. If the Lord is with us, He will strengthen us in a time of difficulty and danger, and His presence will more than make up for anyone’s absence.

Paul concludes with a prayer that the Lord Jesus would be with Timothy’s spirit. We don’t need anything more to make us happy than to have the Lord Jesus Christ with our spirits; for in Him all spiritual blessings are contained. This is the best prayer we can pray for our friends, that the Lord Jesus Christ may be with their spirits, to sanctify and save them, and at last to receive them to Himself. And if grace is with us here to convert and change us, to make us holy, to keep us humble, and to enable us to persevere to the end, glory will crown us hereafter.

Questions
1. Who helped Paul when he stood before Nero?
2. What does Paul pray for Timothy?

Prayer Points
1. Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.