By guest speaker Chris Durso

Today, I want to share a message that the Holy Spirit has placed on my heart. It's a message of urgency, one that I believe is crucial for us to hear and act upon. We're going to dive into 2 Timothy 4, where the Apostle Paul writes to his protégé, Timothy, from a prison cell.

Understanding Paul's Final Letter

Let's start by reading 2 Timothy 4:9-15:

"Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message."

Paul, nearing the end of his life, writes this deeply personal letter to Timothy. It's raw, honest, and name-drops people who've hurt Paul. Through this vulnerability, we gain profound insights.

Healing from Hurt: Lessons from Paul's Honesty

To anyone carrying hurt right now, I want to say: I'm sorry. Whether it's from a broken friendship, a bad breakup, a divorce, family pain, or unresolved trauma – your pain is valid. As a pastor, as a fellow human, I'm sorry you're going through this.

Here's what's beautiful about Paul's letter: he doesn't sugarcoat his experiences. He names names. He points out who hurt him. This honesty is crucial for healing. We can't heal what we don't acknowledge. Despite the hurt Paul experienced within the church, he doesn't blame the church or God for these hurts. This is a crucial lesson for us. We can't blame God for man's mistakes.

Finding Purpose in Pain: God's Assignment Amidst Adversity

Now, here's a truth that might be hard to swallow: even in your pain, you're still assigned by God. Your hurt doesn't negate your purpose. In fact, it might be integral to it. We often think in terms of 'either/or,' but God operates in 'and.' You can be hurting AND healing. You can be processing AND purposeful. God's grace is sufficient for both.

Let's look at 2 Timothy 4:16-18:

"At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Despite being abandoned by his friends, Paul still found strength in the Lord. He didn't let his circumstances define his faith or his mission. This is a powerful example for us.

The Urgency of Obedience: Paul's Call to Timothy

Now, let's focus on the urgency in Paul's message. In 2 Timothy 4:21, Paul writes:

"Do your best to get here before winter."

This wasn't just a casual invitation. In those days, travel during winter was nearly impossible. Paul was saying, "If you don't come now, you might not get another chance."
This message of urgency applies to us today. What is God asking you to do right now? What decision have you been putting off? What relationship needs mending? What step of faith are you hesitating to take?

The Consequences of Delayed Obedience in Our Spiritual Walk

Here's the hard truth: what you don't complete in this season will affect your next season. Delayed obedience can lead to missed opportunities and unnecessary hardships.
Let me share a personal story. There was a time when our income completely stopped. We were overwhelmed, with children to feed and a mortgage to pay. But a year and a half earlier, my wife had felt led by the Holy Spirit to start putting her paycheck into a separate account. At the time, it made no sense. But in that winter season, that obedience provided exactly what we needed.

This reminds me of Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

God's Unexpected Ways: The Growth of Soho Bible Study

Another example: our Soho Bible study. It started with a simple prayer and two unexpected offers of space in Soho. We didn't advertise, just sent out a few text messages. Before we knew it, we had 250 people, then 300, then 400, and it kept growing. Now, we're in a Catholic church, which came about through a dream and a series of divinely orchestrated events.

This growth reminds me of Matthew 13:31-32: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."

The Challenge of Immediate Obedience

God is saying, "Stop negotiating with me. I hold your future in my hands." We often think we know what's best, but God's ways are higher than ours. As Isaiah 55:8-9 says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

As you remember what God has asked you to do, there's a responsibility that comes with it. You can't ignore it or run away from it. You need to run towards the future while taking ownership of the past and stewarding your present.

Embracing God's Urgency in Our Lives

If you know the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about something, it's time to act. Maybe it's a relationship you need to let go of, a new venture you need to start, or a difficult conversation you need to have. Whatever it is, the time is now.

Remember, God's way is better than your way. You might not understand it now, but there are days coming that are more difficult than you can imagine. If you allow God to prepare and equip you with His Spirit, His grace, and His provision, you'll be amazed at what He can do through you.

In closing, I want to challenge you to be immediate in your obedience. Stop prolonging what God is asking you to do. Send that text message. Write that email. Make that apology. Take that step of faith. Whatever it is, do it now.
Remember, we serve a God who doesn't just move forward but expects obedience. 

Are you ready to trust God and take that step of obedience? The time is now. Come before winter.