In this episode of the International Gospel Hour, join Jeff Archie as he delves into the powerful choices made by key biblical figures as discussed in 2 Timothy 4:9-11. Explore how Paul’s words guide us in evaluating our own decisions in faith. From Timothy’s unwavering dedication to Mark’s redemption journey and Demas’ disheartening decision, gain insights that encourage reflection and steadfast commitment to the path of righteousness.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Choose you this day whom you will serve. Two of many texts about choices. Let’s talk about some choices today here from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. Here’s Jeff.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. Great having you with us for our study today here from the International Gospel Hour. You know, as we begin our broadcast, we like to share a number of things with you, and permit me to mention Truth.FM. That’s Truth.FM. Check out their number of listening options and download their app. Also, feel free to download beautiful congregational singing of some of the most blessed long-time hymns. That’s truth.fm. Once again, truth.fm. Today, friends, let’s talk about choices, and we’re going to do so from 2 Timothy 4, verses 9-11, as we see Paul concluding this letter to Timothy. Many students of the Bible believe this writing is also near the end of Paul’s life, and as we also see in a number of Paul’s other letters, he mentions others and his relationship with them. We see this also in 2 Timothy 4, 9-11 that reads, Be diligent to come to me quickly. For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica. Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. We see these that Paul mentions making good choices and one, well, not so good. So let’s learn from their choices today so that we may indeed make the right choices in our lives. We’ll start this in a moment, but right now we’ll be back in about 30 seconds.
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The best way to reach us is our toll-free number at 855-444-6988. Would you take a moment and give us a call and tell us where you are listening to our broadcast? Our number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just call 855-444-6988. That’s 855-444-6988. Thank you so much and keep listening.
SPEAKER 01 :
And again, friends, when you have an opportunity, please call us at our toll-free number. We love to hear where people are listening to our broadcast from, and we’d love to hear from you. If nothing more, just a simple phone call and say, Hi, I heard your broadcast, and I live in, and that’s all you have to say. And we do appreciate you listening and studying with us today. Now let’s talk about choices. Let’s talk about Timothy’s choice. Paul is writing unto Timothy here in 2 Timothy chapter 4, one of two letters that he pens to his own son in the faith, 1 Timothy 1 and verse 2. And he was one who was well reported of by the brethren in Acts 16 and verse 2. He had a good reputation. In 1 Corinthians 4, 17, Timothy was known as one who was faithful in the Lord, who would bring into remembrance of the ways of Paul which be in Christ. Again, that’s 1 Corinthians 4, 17. So he was affectionately known by Paul as his own son in the faith. He had a good reputation and a faithful teacher of the gospel. No wonder Paul could say with confidence in verse 9, Be diligent to come to me quickly. He knew he could trust Timothy. Paul was comforted by Timothy’s life because Timothy stayed faithful, serving God. He is one that, as it would say, you can guarantee he would do the right thing. Timothy made the right choices and he kept choosing correctly as Paul was constantly correcting or encouraging him, rather, and correcting him in the right way. Of course, we see that evident from both letters written unto Timothy. And you know, friends, when an individual makes the right choice, for example, when an individual becomes a Christian, and they believe in God with all their heart, Hebrews 11 and verse 6, and Colossians, or rather John 3 and verse 16, and from that faith they will repent of their sins, as we are commanded in Luke 13, verses 3 and 5, and Acts 2 and verse 38, confessing our faith in Christ as the eunuch did in Acts 8, verse 37, based upon the command of the Lord in Matthew 10, verse 32, and when one is baptized into Christ based upon one’s faith, for their sins to be forgiven, Acts 22, verse 16, where there is remission of sins, Acts 2, verse 38, and based upon one’s faith and baptism, one is saved, Mark 16, verse 16. There is no doubt, friends, that is the right choice. And when one makes that right choice, and then is raised out of the waters of baptism, Raised to walk in newness of life, Romans 6, 4-6, they begin that right faithful journey. As Paul would say in Galatians 2, 20, I’ve been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. We are amazed at Timothy’s choice and how he walked faithful and how Paul depended upon him. Let’s notice a second choice. What about Mark’s choice? Now we learn in verse 11 of 2 Timothy 4, Paul said, The character of Mark is also known as John Mark in the book of Acts. A little background, if you will, in Acts 12 and verse 12, we note that he is the son of Mary. He grew up in the very house where many had gathered praying for Peter. In Acts 12 and verse 25, as well as in Acts 13 and verse 5, he left home and assisted Saul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. But then later in Acts 13 and verse 13, John Mark departed the work. We do not know why. But on the second missionary journey, as they began to see how the churches were doing, we see that he left with Barnabas. But a great contention arose between Barnabas and Saul because of John Mark. And John Mark’s choice, as we see from Acts 15, 36-41. Then after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing. Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John, called Mark, but Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Now, friends, we see where John Mark departed, and we don’t know why, but it was enough to bring a great contention between Paul and Barnabas. But let’s look at John Mark and his choices later, because apparently they were better choices. You know, Paul asked the church at Colossae to receive John Mark, Colossians 4 and verse 10. Paul called him a fellow laborer in Philemon 24. He was also dear to the apostle Peter, as Peter mentioned him in 1 Peter 5 and verse 13. And did you know, by inspiration of the Spirit, he wrote the gospel that bears his name, the gospel of Mark. So, friends, he might have fallen short and made a wrong choice earlier, but not anymore. There’s a great lesson here, friends. Are there changes you need to make in your life? Are you studying and learning that there are things you maybe once believed that you need to change? Keep searching those scriptures, friends, and let us help you in your studies and your search. I’m going to pause for our Jay Webb, who has our special God and Man study available for you.
SPEAKER 02 :
An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It’s titled, God and Man, How to Be Saved from Sin. The study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man. And friends, like all materials, it’s free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, God and Man. Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type God and Man in the message box. another Bible study that is free from IGH, and our friends at godandman.com. That’s god-and-man.com. And, you know, since you can’t see it, let me just spell that out for you. god-and-man.com We’d love to hear from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
And now, friends, let’s look at Demas’ choice. Paul said in 2 Timothy 4, verse 10, that he had forsaken Paul, having loved the present world. But you know two other times Demas is mentioned in a favorable light. Colossians 4, verse 14, as a co-laborer with Paul, and also mentioned in Philemon 24. But the Bible says that he left Paul having loved this present world. It is believed that not merely did he just leave Paul, but that he left him in bad shape or abandoned him. You know, a Christian can easily become like a demon. One can be faithful yet choose to leave the Lord. The Bible affirms and teaches how one can fall away from the faithfulness of God. Such passages as Galatians 5, verse 4, and 2 Peter 3, 17, but also Hebrews 3, verse 12. Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. That’s scary, friends. One has to be somewhere in order to depart. The choice of Demas, well, not so good, as a matter of fact. Just plain wrong and seriously wrong. So here we go with choices. Timothy, the choice of faith. Mark the better choice, the comeback, and Demas the wrong choice. Friends, will you resolve to make the right choice today? We hope that our offers of study will be of help to you, and please call and let us know how we can further be of help to you. And we’re going to continue these studies together at another time. So my friends, as always, thank you for joining me here on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and as always, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today to God Be the Glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time.
