1. How Important Is His Work?
What Is An Evangelist ?
How Important Is His Work?

2. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

3. VI. The Importance of His Work
A. "The time will come"
"Time" here is "season." It is the same word, without the prefix, as translated "in season" in the previous verse. Hence, "there is coming a season” when the Word will not be popular.

4. VI. The Importance of His Work
A. "The time will come"
But if Timothy takes full advantage of every opportunity to preach the word while it is "in season," He will likely have greater success preaching it when it is "out of season."

5. VI. The Importance of His Work
B. "When they will not endure sound doctrine"
To "endure" is to "put up with."
That which is "sound” is "healthy, wholesome."
"Doctrine” is "teaching" in the sense of "that which is taught."

6. VI. The Importance of His Work
B. "When they will not endure sound doctrine"
The meaning of the entire phrase is "They will not want (and, in fact, will even refuse) what is in their best spiritual interest."

7. VI. The Importance of His Work
"According to their own desires;" “allowing their own cravings to dominate them"
"Because they have itching ears;" "desiring to hear for mere gratification."

8. Acts 17:21
For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

9. VI. The Importance of His Work
"According to their own desires;" “allowing their own cravings to dominate them"
"Because they have itching ears;" "desiring to hear for mere gratification."
"They will heap up for themselves teachers;" "accumulate [in piles] teachers" [who will satisfy their tastes].

10. VI. The Importance of His Work
"They will turn their ears away from the truth"
They will see that their ears are in such a position that they will never come in contact with the truth.

11. Proverbs 28:9
One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

12. VI. The Importance of His Work
"They will turn their ears away from the truth"
The ears serve as a passage through which the truth may reach the understanding and the heart.
But if you have no use for the truth, why waste hearing power on it?

13. Matthew 13:15
"'For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'"

14. Matthew 13:19
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

15. VI. The Importance of His Work
"And be turned aside to fables"
"Muthos is to be contrasted with aletheia, truth, and with logos, a story, a narrative purporting to set forth facts."
No longer having a love of the truth, they will become more interested in legendary tales than in historical accounts.

16. VI. The Importance of His Work
Paul has previously warned Timothy about the dangers of fables.

17. 1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

18. 1 Timothy 4:7
But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

19. VI. The Importance of His Work
Paul has previously warned Timothy about the dangers of fables.
This is of extreme importance because the gospel is based, not on myths, but on objective, historical fact.

20. 2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

21. VI. The Importance of His Work
It is for this reason that Paul, and other N.T. writers, would often mention one or more of the facts of the gospel.

22. 1 Corinthians 2:1,2
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

23. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

24. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

25. 1 Corinthians 15:6-8
After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

26. 1 Peter 3:21-22
There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

28. VII. What He Deserves Your moral support
Encourage him as often as possible
Stand behind him when he preaches the truth
Your respect (Rom. 10:15)
Many think their preacher has a life of ease.
Many think their preacher is a lazy bum.

29. VII. What He Deserves Your assistance [“Let the preacher preach!”]
Aug. 20, 1957 Life – “Why Ministers Are Breaking Down”
- His role as conceived by the average church member cannot be filled!
Let all Christians be workers; don’t saddle the preacher with his work and yours, too! (1 Cor. 12:15-20; Eph. 4:11-16)
Encourage him as often as possible
Stand behind him when he preaches the truth

30. VII. What He Deserves Your respect (Rom. 10:15)
Many think their preacher has a life of ease.
Many think their preacher is a lazy bum.
Your assistance [“Let the preacher preach!”]
Aug. 20, 1957 Life – “Why Ministers Are Breaking Down” - His role as conceived by the average church member cannot be filled!
Let all Christians be workers; don’t saddle the preacher with his work and yours, too! (1 Cor. 12:15-20; Eph. 4:11-16)

31. VII. What He Deserves Your financial support (1 Cor. 9:7-14)
The taught are to communicate with him who teaches (Gal. 6:6).
Not only individually, but also collectively (2 Cor. 11:8; Phil. 4:14-16)
Evangelist should be willing to support self, if necessary (Acts 18:1-4).

32. There is no greater work on earth. “Fulfill your Ministry ”
Conclusion
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace; who bring glad tidings of good things” (Rom. 10:16).
“The laborer is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7).
There is no greater work on earth.
“Fulfill your Ministry ”
"Carry it out to fullness; at any time in the future let nothing be lacking in thy service."