Keep Your Relationships

Joel Dennis “Do your best to come to me soon.  For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.  Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.  When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.  Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 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 Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” 2 Timothy 4:9-22 ESV WHAT DO WE HAVE WHEN IT IS ALL OVER? What did Paul need when he had poured himself out? Relationship with GodRelationship with othersA few comfort items A GLIMPSE INTO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND SOMEONE WE ARE TO FOLLOW  “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV You may be abandoned (vs 9-12) “Do your best to come to me soon.  For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.  Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.” You may end up with nothing (vs 13)  “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.” You may be betrayed (vs 14) “Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.” TWO THINGS WILL BE THERE AT THE END: God’s love and care (vs 17-18) “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.  The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Relationship with others (vs 11, 19-21) “Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry… 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 Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.”