Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org
Men's Leadership Support Group Meeting notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/mensupport/20060609.m.htm

MEN'S LEADERSHIP SUPPORT GROUP
Part XI: Functioning Effectively As A Leader Under Pressure - 2 Timothy
E. Staying Productive As A Leader Under Fire
2. Staying Productive In Daily Living For The Lord
(2 Timothy 4:6, 9-22)
  1. Introduction
    1. Leaders under constant pressure can tire from staying motivated and fail in their regular daily chores.
    2. Though on death row for the Christian faith, Paul never lost sight of his need to excel in his daily routine! Considering this fact provides us a great example as leaders on "finishing well" like he did (as follows):
  2. Staying Productive In Daily Living For The Lord, 2 Timothy 4:6, 9-22.
    1. Though about to be martyred, Paul urgently sought edifying human companionship, 2 Timothy 4:6, 9-11a:
      1. Paul urged Timothy to do his best to come to visit him in prison, 2 Timothy 4:9.
      2. Paul's reason was based on the departure of others that left a vacuum of fellowship for him:
        1. Paul reported Demas had forsaken him having loved this present world, 2 Timothy 4:6, 9b-10a, b.
        2. Then, others like Crescens and Titus had left for far lands so that Luke alone was with him, creating a vacuum of adequate fellowship support for Paul, 2 Timothy 4:9b, 10c-11a.
    2. Though about to be martyred, Paul urgently sought to remain productive in his personal work, 4:6, 11b: he urged Timothy to bring Mark who at one time had been unprofitable in the ministry (Acts 15:36-40) but who had since rebounded to become a great asset to Paul in his latter days of life and ministry!
    3. Though about to be martyred, Paul urgently sought to promote missionary outreach, 2 Timothy 4:6, 12: he sent Tychicus to Ephesus to meet the needs of believers in that church.
    4. Though about to be martyred, Paul urgently sought to sustain his physical welfare, 2 Timothy 4:6, 13a, 21a: he wanted the cloak he had left at Troas with Carpus before winter to stay warm until his execution!
    5. Though about to be martyred, Paul urgently sought to sustain his spiritual welfare, 2 Timothy 4:6, 13b-15:
      1. Paul urgently sought to enhance his knowledge of Scripture, 2 Tim. 4:13b: the "books" (KJV) were papyrus rolls, and "parchments" (KJV) skins of vellum that were probably Paul's own copies of the Old Testament, Ryr. St. Bib., KJV, ftn. to 4:13. "This missionary-prisoner still wanted to study!" (Ibid.)
      2. Paul urgently sought to promote holiness in fellowship, 2 Tim. 4:14-15. He told of the abuse he had faced from Alexander the coppersmith to warn Timothy to be wary of him in accord with 2 Tim. 3:1-5!
    6. Though about to be martyred, Paul urgently focused on immediate future plans in his life, 4:6, 19-20, 22:
      1. Paul focused on his impending death with the aim of finishing his earthly life uprightly, 4:16-16:
        1. He felt concern for fellow believers who were failing to stand with him for the truth, 2 Tim. 4:16.
        2. He recalled and rejoiced in God's sustenance amid the spiritual defeat of fellow workers, 4:17.
        3. He thus expressed hope in God for a sustained righteous life until he reached heaven, 2 Tim. 4:18.
      2. Paul focused on greeting to edify supportive fellow workers, 2 Timothy 4:19, 21b.
      3. Paul focused on urging others to care for needy fellow workers, 2 Timothy 4:20.
      4. Paul focused on pointing fellow workers to their spiritual all-sufficiency in the grace of God found in relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Timothy 4:22.
Lesson: Though facing imminent martyrdom, Paul did not let himself become distracted by it so as to "give up" on his daily chores; no, he USED this threat as motivation to FINISH WELL for the Lord!

Application: May we who lead retain a sense of URGENCY to FINISH WELL regardless how bleak the human outlook! As long as we have life, we must INVEST it for God with a sense of URGENCY!

Illustration: After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, rangers climbed a mountain to survey the damage. One ranger found a bird petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. Sickened, he gently struck it and three tiny chicks scurried from under their mother's wings. She had carried her young to the base of the tree and gathered them under her wings below the rising toxic smoke. She could have flown to safety. However, she had refused to abandon her babies until the blaze had scorched her body. She had stayed steadfast, willing to die that those under her wings might live. (a story from the web) May we leaders under fire also finish well for the sake of those in our care!