Matt Beaney
- Aug 24, 2021
- 4 min read

#422 - LONGING FOR HIS APPEARING - (24/8/21)

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!

TODAY’S TEXT

‘For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.' (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. †GOSPEL

Paul lived a life of sacrificial worship; he ran the race and fought the fight for Jesus because Jesus had called him, saved him and appointed him to serve Him. Only those who are members of God’s people can be ‘poured out the drink offering’. Paul could live a life of worship because He had become an acceptable offering through the grace of God in Christ.

2. UP

Our lives given in sacrificial service to God are received by Him as worship. They are an aroma that pleases Him. God is ‘the righteous judge’ who will award ‘the crown of righteousness' to His faithful servants.

3. IN

I know it’s obvious, but there is a time for our ‘departure’. Paul lived in awareness of His bodily mortality and spiritual immortality. He wanted to serve God in the time that he had in the body. The question we all need to ask each day is, ‘how can I worship God in my service to others today?’

“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:17-18)

Paul had a vision of eternity. He was confident of a ‘crown of righteousness’. He was confident of the crown of eternal life given to all who have received Jesus. He was also confident of the reward and affirmation that comes to those who have run the race faithfully.

Paul makes it clear that a test of our salvation is whether we have ‘longed for His appearing’. Those who are truly Christians long to see Jesus face to face. They long for His return. They are not squandering their lives on selfish living in this short life!

4. OUT

If we are to help anyone to know Jesus, it requires sacrificial service. Paul had brought the gospel to Ephesus. Paul had stayed in Ephesus for 3 years in order to establish this church - that’s a great sacrifice of time and effort (See Acts 19).

5. DO? - Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:

Do we thank God for those who have served us sacrificially? Our parents, various leaders, friends…?

Are we sacrificially serving others? Are we being ‘poured out like a drink offering’ in service to God’s people and His mission?

Are we ‘longing for His appearing’? Is the return of Christ a passion for us?

HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series we are going to take a different approach to learning from the Bible together. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily Method’ together (Gospel, Up, In, Out, Do) - you will have to do all the work!

1. Icebreaker - How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week? (During this LEARNING TO HEAR series, we are seeking to develop a culture of listening to God out of His word)

2. Select a text of scripture. (You could use the text from Sunday’s message or something of your choice.)

3. Read and recall. (Read the text and ask each person in the group to put it into their own words.)

4. Please go through these questions together:

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray and share (if it’s appropriate) about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

5. SIV - Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

#422 - LONGING FOR HIS APPEARING - (24/8/21)

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series I’m taking a different approach to these devotionals. I want to us work harder at searching the scriptures for ourselves. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily’ method below to help us with this. It’s well worth the hard work involved!

TODAY’S TEXT

I’ve included my reflections on today’s text below. However, I encourage you to pray and spend time reflecting (writing can be helpful) using the 5 questions below before reading my thoughts.

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

MY REFLECTIONS

1. †GOSPEL

2. UP

Our lives given in sacrificial service to God are received by Him as worship. They are an aroma that pleases Him. God is ‘the righteous judge’ who will award ‘the crown of righteousness' to His faithful servants.

3. IN

Paul had a vision of eternity. He was confident of a ‘crown of righteousness’. He was confident of the crown of eternal life given to all who have received Jesus. He was also confident of the reward and affirmation that comes to those who have run the race faithfully.

Paul makes it clear that a test of our salvation is whether we have ‘longed for His appearing’. Those who are truly Christians long to see Jesus face to face. They long for His return. They are not squandering their lives on selfish living in this short life!

4. OUT

If we are to help anyone to know Jesus, it requires sacrificial service. Paul had brought the gospel to Ephesus. Paul had stayed in Ephesus for 3 years in order to establish this church - that’s a great sacrifice of time and effort (See Acts 19).

5. DO? - Here are a few examples of application that I’ve come up with:

Do we thank God for those who have served us sacrificially? Our parents, various leaders, friends…?

Are we sacrificially serving others? Are we being ‘poured out like a drink offering’ in service to God’s people and His mission?

Are we ‘longing for His appearing’? Is the return of Christ a passion for us?

HEAR - Pray about how the Holy Spirit might want you to respond.

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY

During this LEARNING TO HEAR series we are going to take a different approach to learning from the Bible together. We will use the ‘Come to Jesus Daily Method’ together (Gospel, Up, In, Out, Do) - you will have to do all the work!

1. Icebreaker - How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week? (During this LEARNING TO HEAR series, we are seeking to develop a culture of listening to God out of His word)

2. Select a text of scripture. (You could use the text from Sunday’s message or something of your choice.)

3. Read and recall. (Read the text and ask each person in the group to put it into their own words.)

4. Please go through these questions together:

i. †GOSPEL - 'Gaze on the cross'- What does this text reveal about salvation through Jesus?

ii. UP – What does this text say about God – His worth, character, attributes, will, promises…?

iii. IN – What does this say about me, the church and how we are to relate? Is there a promise to believe, command to do, attitude to have, something to avoid, is there forgiveness to seek or give?

iv. OUT – What does this say about my community and mission?

v. DO - This has two components. Firstly, list as many possible ways that you can think of that one might apply the text (actions or attitudes). Secondly, hear - Pray and share (if it’s appropriate) about how the Holy Spirit is leading you, specifically, to respond.

5. SIV - Finally, it would be helpful to talk and pray about how we are doing in regard to Serve, Invest and Invite. Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard? How do you want to pray in regard to our mission?

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