Well, it's a privilege to be with you this morning and to bring the word. It is the same Aaron that is coming to you and speaking to you, regardless of the haircut and the glasses. It's still me. I got a... Well, we used to call them a COVID haircut, but I can't really, I don't know if I can use that excuse anymore, but it's a homemade haircut. I'm thankful for my wife for giving me, and we were experimenting. We really were just experimenting. Like, let's just try this out. Haircuts are getting more expensive. Let's just see what happens. And new glasses. So, new year, good way to start the year. As we begin the new year, we're ending 2 Timothy. The last part of 2 Timothy here, chapter four, verse nine through 22. You can turn your Bibles there if you haven't already. 2 Timothy chapter four, nine through 22. We've been in We've been in Timothy for actually a year. Second Timothy, I've just had the opportunity, when I have the opportunity to preach, to be in Second Timothy, and it's been a year. I think last week, a year ago, would have been the first sermon on Second Timothy, so I'm very thankful, and God has taught me a lot through Second Timothy. And now we come to the end. We come to the final, really, section of Timothy, Paul's letter to Timothy. And this is the last letter that we have on record for Paul. There might have been others that he sent, but this is the last inspired writing that we have because he soon was murdered at the hands of the Roman Empire. soon after writing this letter to Timothy, and we can kind of sense that as we walk through the end of this letter, that Paul knows his time is running short. And interestingly enough, as his time is running short, people are leaving him towards the end of his life. One has deserted him, and a couple others he has sent off to do the work. Paul's not, he desires companionship, but he's not keeping these people close for personal reasons. He sends them off to do the work of the ministry still, because there's still work to be done. This morning, I would like us to see, our central truth that I'd like us to see is that Christians enjoy extraordinary companionship when it is empowered by the gospel. That's what I'd really like us to see over the course of the sermon and from 2 Timothy here, chapter four, that Christians enjoy extraordinary companionship when it's empowered by the gospel. I wonder what kind of companionship you have in your life. Family, close friends, spouse, coworkers, we all have companions. People we call maybe our inner circle or just our circle of acquaintances, companions, that we have some sort of commonality or a common bond that we share. If it's a spouse, It could be a plethora of things, but it could be children, it could be shared experiences, memories you have together. The same with family and friends. Your bond is something. Something brings you together. Something keeps the friendship and the companionship going. As we look at our, as friends, families, spouse, children, There's commonalities that we share. There's a reason why I'm still a companion of this person. We're gonna look at companionship, and that's really what is seen in the last section here of 2 Timothy, companionship. But we're gonna see that this type of companionship that is really centered in the gospel, it's the sweetest, and it's the best, and it's the richest type of companionship that you can share. with a person. And we have the privilege of partaking in that as a church, as a body, that sweetest of companionship with our brothers and sisters in Christ and with our Savior, Christ Jesus, and with God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, when it is empowered by the gospel. As we look back into 2 Timothy to kind of get a little bit of context, it's been a couple, maybe a month or so since we heard from Paul here in 2 Timothy, but Paul has previously warned, if you look back there in chapter three and chapter four, Paul has previously been warning of the false teachers in Ephesus. Remember, Timothy is in Ephesus leading that church. Paul is warning of the false teachers that are coming without and within. He's warning of these and he's warning of their leader, ultimately the devil himself. He's warning of these things and he's warning that they oppose the truth. The primary flaw and the primary thing to look for is the fact that they are opposing the truth. In light of these who are opposing the truth, Timothy is to uphold the truth even more. Because the truth is found in God's word. The truth is God's word and there is none other. The word reveals the gospel. This word that Paul had and was entrusted with and that Timothy was entrusted with and that has been compiled into the New Testament and conjoined with the Old Testament together making the word of God manifesting and revealing the gospel, the redeeming work of God. In the word, in the truth, the gospel is seen. And when the gospel is received by faith, as many of you here have, receive the gospel by faith. Its power is ignited in your life, in my life, in our lives. The gospel power is at work. And as Paul said in Romans chapter one, I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation. It is the power of God, the good news is the power of God unto salvation. For all who would believe. For all who would believe. For all who would receive it by faith. And so knowing this, Many of our favorite passages of the scripture, mine for sure, one of my most favorite and treasured passages of scripture, and really it should be. What our church proclaims is chapter three, verse 16, all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. As a result of this truth being so, the gospel revealed in the truth, and by faith believed, you must proclaim the truth, Timothy. You must stay in it, as Paul tells Timothy. Stay in it. through the whole course of your life, stay in the word of God. And ask for continual belief and faith in that word. Use the word to do the work. And now as Paul concludes his letter, you remember back there in chapter four, verse two, when he says, he calls God and Christ Jesus to witness. The one who has done the work of reconciling, of redeeming, of bearing the wrath, Christ Jesus. Paul calls Christ to witness the charge that Paul has on Timothy's life. In chapter four, verse one and two, preach the word. Use the word, be ready with the word because of what I have just taught you, because of the importance of the word. And now, as Paul closes out his letter, he has some personal requests for Timothy. Picking up in verse nine, he has some personal requests for Timothy. The ministry team is being depleted, we're gonna see that. The ministry team in Rome, remember Paul's in Rome, his life is nearing an end, the gospel is going out in Rome, but the team is depleted. One has deserted and others have gone to different places where the gospel needs to be proclaimed. He says, Luke alone is with me. And so Paul has some personal request of Timothy. What is it first here in verse nine? As we look at our first point, Christian companions work together for the good of the gospel. That's our first point here. Verse nine. Says, do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with his present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia. Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Towards the end of his life, Paul is alone. Luke alone is with him. The physician and the historian, Luke, is with him, documenting Paul's journeys, documenting Paul's words, his actions, taking note of these things, and tending to his wounds, tending to his physical needs, his spiritual needs of companionship, his spiritual needs of encouragement. But Luke is also tending to his physical needs. As Paul endures great suffering and reproach for the sake of the gospel, Luke alone is with him. Demas. Why does Paul want Timothy to come to him soon? Well, it's because for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Demas is mentioned multiple times in scripture towards the end of letters that Paul would write similar to as he does here. He gives greetings. Demas says hello. Demas greets you. Paul greets you. Timothy greets you. I sent him here and she went there. Demas is mentioned as a coworker of Paul, but now at the end of this letter, he's informing Timothy, please come soon. Someone has deserted me. Demas has deserted me. And what's the reason? In love with this present world. What a sad statement. One who's, it seems, one who's the soil of his heart was what Matthew 13 calls rocky. The seed of the gospel lands on the soil of Demas's heart. And when the cares of the world, the trials, the persecutions, for the sake of the word, the persecutions, the trials, the pressures, the sufferings that Christ promised as a result of you believing and us believing in the gospel. Those who have rocky hearts. The seed does not have any root, and Matthew 13 says it falls away. And this is what has happened to Demas, unfortunately. He's in love with this present world, and as Demas, he's seen Paul, he's seen the sufferings that Paul's enduring, not only physically, but psychologically. The stress and the pressure of the ministry work, and of really following Christ, Demas, It falls away. I'm not, I can't do this. I don't want this. The world has better things to offer. I don't get why you don't see it, Paul, or other coworkers don't see this, but the world's got better things right here and right now. So I'm going there. So he deserts and goes to Thessalonica. Crescents goes to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. Crescents and Titus are not in connection here with Demas. They're not ones that have fallen away, but Paul is just saying that these also have gone. They've left me and are going on to do gospel work. Crescents and Titus to Dalmatia. And Luke alone is with me. You're seeing here Almost the sides being taken as the persecution continues. And really, 30 plus years after Christ's death and resurrection, the persecution is intense. The suffering is intense. And true believers are starting to realize what this is really all about. Jesus is ascended and gone. He sent the helper, but this is hard. This gospel life is difficult. There's trial, there's persecution. Christ said that he who would follow me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. He said if you seek to gain your life in this life, you'll lose it. But if you lose your life for my sake, you'll find it. They're starting to realize that these things are coming true, that Christ told the truth with regard to the gospel ministry and the gospel life, the Christian life. Demas leaves. You see, a true believer is one whose heart is soft to the soil. Crescents and Titus, proving to be true and genuine believers as the soil of their heart is humble and soft to receive the gospel, to believe it by faith, even daily, to trust and obey. The root of the gospel runs deep in their hearts. And when trial and persecution comes, even though it's hard and difficult, they do not fall away. I wonder, even this morning, as you are tested, as God ordains testings and trials and persecutions may be in your life, are you tempted to fall away? Are you tempted to follow the way of the world? Are you tempted to see the lures and desires of the world and say, am I the only one seeing that that is better here and now? No, we're all seeing it, but the true believers, the ones who God has instilled faith by grace, they are, by his grace, able to resist those temptations of the world. Maybe not for a time, maybe they give in, but God in his faithfulness, even as we read in Lamentations, brings us low. that again we may see the gospel, that again we may see Christ, that again we may take heart and believe in the gospel. Roots of faith run deeper and deeper and deeper into our hearts, really preparing us for glory when the fullness of this will be revealed. Luke alone is with me, he says. The wonderful providing and ordaining and orchestrating hand of God in this, isn't it? God's orchestrating all these things. God is orchestrating the trials in Paul's life. God is allowing them. He has a design in them. But all the while, who's with him? Luke. The physician, the doctor, the historian. God has a plan in all of this. God is working all things out for good. And he's doing the same, even as we kind of get a behind the scenes look here at Paul's organization and Paul's strategy and Paul's moving of parts, we see God's hand at work. And we even see that in our church as God and other bodies, this body here and other bodies in this city and around the world, God divinely placing an appropriate amount of gifts and abilities in the church. for the sake of the gospel, for the good of the gospel. Companions coming alongside each other for the work of the gospel, for the best of the gospel. You see how Paul is working these things. It's not good that Titus and Crescent stay with him. It's better that they go. And although he would long for them to be with him, it's better that they go for the sake of the gospel. All of these things working out for the good of the gospel. And then he moves on. So he really, really, really wants Timothy to come see him. He mentions it three times in this passage. He says here in verse nine, do your best to come to me soon. In verse, the end of 11 here he says, get Mark and bring him with you. He's kind of really just assuming that Timothy's gonna come. You have to come, Timothy, I need you. And then later on he says, do your best to come before winter. Timothy, Paul wants Timothy with him. That's the best for the gospel in Rome. But he says, get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. He says, Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. And then he has some other personal belongings that he would like brought to him. Interesting that he says get Mark. If you remember from Acts, Barnabas and Paul had a disagreement regarding Mark. We're gonna start seeing a theme through this section about those who have deserted. Demas deserted. Mark, in Acts, I believe it's 15, yeah, 1538, Mark deserted for a little while. We don't exactly know what that's for, but we assume that some ministry was too hard, or he had to take a break, or he needed a rest, or whatever it was, he left. And it seems to be that the reason that the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas was so tense was because Paul was wondering if Mark was the real deal. Paul was wondering if Mark would stand the test of time. So here, Mark contrasts Demas as Demas is one who fell away. and in love with his present world has gone, Mark, for a time, may have fallen in love with the world, or maybe just been very discouraged in the ministry, or was wondering if this was gonna be his life, if he was really gonna go all in. But it seems that Mark was brought back. It seems that Mark was humbled, and the Lord brings him back by his grace, and Paul now sees he's the real deal. He's the real deal. He has endured in this gospel ministry. He sees God's grace working in him and so he says, get Mark and bring him with you. Mark must have been somewhere on the way from Ephesus to Rome. He was somewhere ministering and Paul says, on your way to me, get him and bring him. For why? He is very useful to me for ministry. What a wonderful picture of the of really the power of the gospel. This isn't someone that Paul had personal beef with or personal problems with. No, he was just wondering the test of his true faith. He was wondering the genuineness of Mark's faith, I believe. But because of the gospel, because of the power of the gospel, because of the reconciling work of the gospel, that's behind him. And for the best of the gospel, and for the good of the good news, he says, get Mark and bring him with you. Verse 12, he says, Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Why does he insert this here? Well, probably because he wants to assure Timothy that his post will be covered, that the ministry will be covered. Tychicus is mentioned a few other times in scripture, but he's mentioned again in reference to almost filling the pulpit, if you will, at a different church. So Tychicus is described also as a beloved brother and faithful minister. He's a faithful servant of God who Paul uses. He's got certain gifts and abilities that Paul sees and is now using strategically so that Timothy can come to him. Tychicus goes to Ephesus to minister. All working together for the good of the gospel, for the sake of the gospel. And he puts Timothy's mind at ease. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Your post is covered. Come visit me. And do your best to come before winter. He also has some personal belongings that he would like. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carthus at Troas, also the books, and above all, the parchments. This is such a personal and candid request from Paul. It really seems to bring us near to him. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Karpus at Troas. For some reason, Paul left this winter coat with Karpus. Maybe Karpus needed it, but probably Paul didn't need it when he was ministering in the summer months. This is a burden to me, this coat's a burden to me. I'll leave it here with Karpus at Troas, and hopefully I'll be reunited with this thing before winter. So he says, I'm in great need of that, I'm cold. It's gonna be cold ministering here in the winter months. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all, the parchments. There seems to be some distinction here between the books and the parchments, as he says, above all, or especially. Were these letters that Paul had, were they Old Testament manuscripts, were they his Roman citizenship papers? We don't know exactly what they were, but they were very important to Paul, these books and especially the parchments. They were left with Carpus at Troas, and Paul says, those are important to me, with the cloak and the books and the parchment, especially the parchment. As Paul seeks companionship, personal and relational companionship of Timothy, he also seeks the companionship of his books and of his parchments. Probably in there somewhere was Old Testament manuscripts, texts that were near and dear to Paul. that he's lonely without. I'm sure he has so many sections of the Old Testament memorized, but still the parchments, bring the parchments. We see here as Paul is a studier, a reader, a writer. One who is busy about the ministry work, but he's not going it alone or in his own strength. He needs his personal companions, and he needs the Lord's abiding presence with him. He needs the companionship of the books and the parchments. He's not doing this ministry in and of his own strength. He knows where the strength comes from. Bring those things. We see here Paul kind of operating as a team leader or an administrator. You think of a normal work setting, you have an office administrator, a marketing team, general contractors, maybe subcontractors, You have the boots on the ground people, you have the administration team, the organizers, and then you have the leader, you have the boss, you have the overseer of the whole project. All are interdependent. All are dependent upon one another. You can't do the work completely without the whole. It wouldn't work. I've been with brother Dan as he's organizing and administering where he works, organizing and administrating in the office. He's getting calls from the boots on the ground guy. Hey, do I go here next? Where do I go after this? Dan's organizing and administrating. When I worked carpet cleaning, we're doing the same thing. Boots on the ground people, calling back to the administrators. We're running a little late, you gotta call these people and tell them that we're gonna be a little late to this job. We couldn't do all of it. No one can do all the work, and God has not ordained it to be that way. God has ordained the church. God has ordained the body. God has gifted the body. God has equipped the body. And Christ is the head of the body, the church. I need you. Pastor needs you. you need that brother or sister sitting next to you. I wonder as you look at that brother or sister next to you in the pew, behind you or in front of you, do you see that person as a companion in the gospel? Is that brother or sister a companion in the gospel? Are you working together for the sake of the gospel, where you live or in this church, outside of this church? Or are they the person that you, You see every week and you sit next to every week for an hour. The ease of this life, the ease of really what we have in America, we have not endured the persecution that Paul is enduring. We've been graciously given this country and that's one of the reasons, one of the reasons may be that we We're just not bold enough to share. I know I fall into that so often. But as the trials come, as the persecutions come, and as you engage more and more in this gospel work, and as you follow Christ, great trial, great persecution, great humbling will come to you. And it's not always in the realm of sharing your faith. It's just in the realm of the spirit and of the spiritual things as we follow Christ. He said that our way will be hard and narrow as we are more and more conformed to his image. You sense those pressures, don't you? You sense the trials. You sense the great weight. And you sense the burden to share. How we need the brothers and sisters that are sitting next to us as companions in the gospel. As the gospel bonds Christians together, and the gospel's the epicenter of their relationship, so too, as Christians have enemies, those enemies should only be centered around the gospel. We're gonna see in this next section that Paul has enemies. Alexander is one of them. Alexander the coppersmith is an enemy of Paul. And while he doesn't say enemy here, and Paul might even not use those words, Alexander is an enemy of the gospel. The second thing I like to see is the Christian's only enemy is he who is the enemy of the gospel. It says, Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. The name Alexander is mentioned in connection with Ephesus multiple times, leading us to believe that there's some connection to this church, that Alexander was connected to this church. He was a metal worker, so it was possible that he was a part of the clan in Acts 19 that was angry with Paul for stealing from their idol-making business. Paul was proclaiming the true God, and it was taking away from these idol-makers' business. So maybe Alexander was one of those guys who was furious with Paul. Alexander's also mentioned in 1 Timothy 1.20. In that case, if it's the same Alexander, then it would have been one who was once a member of the church. who has now become an enemy of the gospel. Either way, this person hates the gospel, this person hates the way. And he did Paul a great deal of harm. Physical or psychological, he went out of his way to do Paul a great deal of harm because of the ministry. And Paul now takes it upon himself to warn Timothy. As he comes to Paul, be aware of him yourself, for he strongly opposes our ministry. As Paul had many companions in ministry, Paul also had many enemies in ministry, as Jesus predicted. Jesus predicted that there would be enemies, that Christians would have enemies. Now we're called to love our enemies, and we see the love of Paul, see love here of Paul. He doesn't call him his enemy. I'm sure he sought to love him and display love, especially if he was a part of the church at one time. But Paul had enemies. but these enemies were enemies of the gospel. These enemies that Paul had were not, it wasn't personal problems that he had with these enemies. It wasn't their personality that he didn't like. It wasn't something they did long ago that he didn't like. We saw that with Mark, Paul reconciling. It wasn't that. No, an enemy that Paul had, and any enemy that Paul had was first and foremost an enemy of the gospel. So it's not to say that Christians don't have enemies, but that the enemy should be the one that is opposed to the gospel first and foremost, because how often we build building blocks and building blocks between people and relationships. And we call people enemies that are not really our enemies. People that we have a personal problem with or have done something to us long ago that we've got a personal beef with. This is not what we see exemplified in the Bible. And the Christian is not called to that and cannot partake. How we often bite and devour, how pride builds barriers between people. how we hold on to things for so long and refuse to give them up because of pride. And we confuse the enemy. We're confused of who the enemy is. We think that the enemy is someone that we should be reconciled with. We think the enemy is maybe even a brother and sister in Christ because of pride that we've built up. Paul exemplifies here that the enemy is the enemy of the gospel first and foremost. How we should strive to love, forgive, confess, and reconcile in keeping with the gospel, and not let the enemy gain a foothold in our relationships. And even to our true enemies, maybe those who are opposed to us being Christians and the gospel, are we retaliating? What does Paul say here, verse 14, or 15, excuse me. Nope, sorry, it's 14. Paul is not retaliating here in a sense of Alexander did him great harm, so he's gonna cause Alexander great harm. No, he says the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. I trust the Lord's judgment in that. I trust God's justice in that. We've seen Paul's ministry team depleted. And even enemies against him in Rome and in Ephesus. But things get worse. Paul communicates that at one time in his ministry here in Rome, everyone deserted him. If it couldn't get any worse that all his companions are gone, and he's alone, and he fears the cold of the winter. He goes on to communicate that, at my first offense, in verse 16 there, no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them. At his first offense, Paul communicates that everyone deserted him. It's similar to Jesus' trial. When Jesus was on trial, and things got really, really difficult in Jesus' ministry, where the rubber met the road of Jesus' ministry, was in the garden, and when they came to take him away, and all deserted him. All left. And Paul is experiencing that in his ministry as the rubber is meeting the road in Rome and he's gonna be murdered soon. Some are deserting. And when he's on trial, all desert him. Everyone. But he says here, may it not be charged against them. That's kind of in contrast to what he says about Alexander. And that goes to show how fierce Alexander's hatred of the gospel was. Similar to what Jesus says when he says, Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do. Paul here says, may it not be charged against them. Paul, as he nears the end of his life, his ministry and his life and his walk is looking more and more and more like Christ's. Amen to that. That is what Paul longed for. That was his hope. That's what he clung to. As he says in chapter one, I am convinced, I believe that, what does he say, I'm forgetting it, I almost confused it. Well, that he who began a good work would bring it to completion. That's not here, but also he says, I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he's able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Paul has given his life to the gospel. His entire life, he believes it by faith and its power is working in him. And it's gotta bring Paul wonderful, great joy and assurance as he nears the end of his life to see God has been faithful. God has been faithful to conform me to the image of Christ. And God is faithful to do that in these trials. Notice that it's in these trials. Notice that it's in the pressures. Notice that it's in the persecution. When all desert him, he has nothing in this world to cling to. He has nothing. The Lord stood by me and strengthened me. In that moment, God's presence may be even more active in his life than ever. the gospel at work, the power of the gospel revealing and showing itself. And some of you older saints, wiser saints know this to be true. You look back over your life and you say God has been faithful. How foolish and stupid I was when I was Pastor Aaron's age. How little I knew. But God has been faithful to conform me to the image of Christ. And he has made his presence known. And that's what Paul communicates here. And as Paul is sanctified and grows and knows the presence of God with him, knows that God is his portion, the message goes out. As it says there in verse 17. So that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. This is the beauty of the gospel. the beauty of the gospel on display here. It changes you, it sanctifies you, it conforms you to the image of Christ by its power, faith working in you, and it gets the message out. As you are conformed, as we are changed into the image of Christ, it naturally outflows that we would love the gospel that saved us and share it and proclaim it that all the world might hear. God's wisdom, his providence, his ordaining, his sovereign hand at work in this glorious gospel that we are partakers of. He says, I was saved from the lion's mouth. If you would, Look at Psalm 22 very quickly. The messianic psalm, maybe apart from Isaiah 53, the closest psalm that we have of identifying the crucifixion. Psalm 22, as it says there in verse 16, many dogs encompassed me, a company of evildoers encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them, and from my clothing they cast lots. But you, O Lord, do not be far off. O you, my help, come quickly to my aid. Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog. Save me from the mouth of the lion. You've rescued me from the horn of the wild oxen. The Messianic Psalm predicting the crucifixion of Christ as Christ was deserted. Christ was deserted for us. Christ was completely deserted by all of his companions for the sake of this gospel, for the sake of the plan of God, for the sake of redemption. That is Paul's hope and confidence. That is Paul's faith. That is Paul's life, is Christ. And here at the end of his life, that sanctification process is being brought to an end. Before he's taken into glory, as he identifies and says, I was rescued from the lion's mouth, he's identifying closely with Christ. And this confidence is taken into the next verse where he says, Amen. What confidence that Paul had in his God. Confidence in his presence. Confidence in his ability to rescue him from every evil deed and bring him safely into the heavenly kingdom. His faith did not waver at the end. Although many times I'm sure it did, his faith did not waver at the end. He was true and genuine. He was of the faith. Reminds me of the song, and maybe you've brought it to mind as we study these verses from 2 Timothy. I know whom I have believed. The author admits great limitation to his knowledge of God and his workings. There's much we do not know about God. Sometimes we feel like there's nothing we know about him as we view his greatness, his vastness. But there are a few things that we're convicted of and convinced of beyond a shadow of a doubt. The author of that hymn says, I know not why God's wondrous grace to me he hath made known, nor why unworthy Christ in love redeemed me for his own. I know not of how his saving faith to me he imparted, nor how his word brings peace to my heart. I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing man of sin. revealing Jesus through his word. I know not of good or ill that may be reserved for me, or weary ways or golden days before his face I see. I know not when my Lord may come, at night or noonday fair, nor if I'll walk the veil with him or meet him in the air. But I know whom I have believed. And I am persuaded that he is able to keep, that's what has been committed to me, unto him against that day. I ask you this morning, do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you believe the gospel? In your heart of hearts, do you believe its promises? It is so important that we contemplate these questions. We go throughout our lives and we say, yes, yes, we believe. I go to church, I read the Bible, I've been a part of this church for so long. Stop, in our heart of hearts, in the quietness of our souls, do I believe in Jesus? Do I believe in the gospel? Do I believe in its promises? If you do, Great trial, persecution, struggle, and humbling will be yours. And it may even be today. But the sweetest of hope is in Christ. And the sweetest of companionship is with our Heavenly Father. As Paul closes his letter, we see the sweet fellowship of the gospel. only that the gospel can provide. Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth and I left Trophimus who was ill at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you as do Prunus and Linus and Claudian, all the brothers. The fellowship of the gospel, those at work in so many different places but together bound by the gospel work in them and through them. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. As we close, I'd like to read from 2 Corinthians 4. How is this so sweet? How is the gospel fellowship and companionship so sweet? 2 Corinthians chapter four verse seven says, but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not driven to despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Struck down, but not destroyed. Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. How is this companionship so sweet? As I die, as the gospel works in you to bring death to the old man, it builds your brother and sister up. It brings life in them as they see you and the other suffering for the sake of the gospel, enduring in this gospel work together, death being at work in both of you, life working in us all. It's a bond that is unlike any in this world. And this gospel is the most precious thing in all of the world. We possess it in jars of clay. We know not many things, but we know God's power and presence in our lives through the gospel, we do. We know his sanctifying work. We know the various persecutions and trials. We know the reward that waits beyond the finish line. And so we press on. That we may know God and the power of his resurrection because Christ has made us his own. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of that one thing I do. Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what is ahead, I press on to the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. In the presence of God today, may we take this gospel call seriously, brothers and sisters. May we take it seriously. In the quietness of your heart, ask. Do I believe it? Am I engaged in it? For the glory of God alone, let's pray. Dear Father, my greatest prayer and desire is that the power of God through the gospel would be at work in our body, in our church family. That we would have sweet companionship in the gospel, that our work would be the gospel. Lord, I pray that you would bear up any this morning who is cast down. Bear up any this morning, tend to their wounds, minister to them through the glory of your power and grace and love. You've displayed it in the gospel. Dear God, bear them up. You may have brought them low, Lord, and I praise you for that. You've brought me low this week, you have. But we see that you are our portion when we have no other lot in this life. And that's enough. Thank you, Lord. I pray this work at work in us, in Jesus' name, amen.