We live in a time of significant change. Every one of us is aware of this with the events of this week - the marches in London, and the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, one of the world’s most influential Christian voices, especially among young people. It has shaken the world. He was one of the loudest Christian voices of our time. He wasn’t afraid to speak the truth boldly or to stand for the Gospel unashamedly. He stepped into hard conversations, challenged controversial issues, and showed young people what it looks like to live with courage and conviction. His reach was vast with millions of social media followers and YouTube subscribers. Through campus tours and viral videos, at just 31 years of age, his message touched millions of young lives worldwide. But his sudden death shocked the world. And what was even more shocking was the response of some: people laughing, mocking, even celebrating.   That reaction exposed the clear divide between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. And this is significant. The enemy would love to silence that kind of passion, to dim the light of courage. But we mustn’t let that happen. This is our moment, let this be a wake-up call. We cannot stay silent nor comfortable. When darkness gets louder, the light must shine brighter. If the enemy is bold, then God’s people must be bolder. We are called to rise up, to speak truth without fear, to love without compromise, and to carry the Gospel with urgency like never before. This is not a time to shrink back, this is a time to stand up.    Last week, we honoured the life of Pastor Terry, and Pastor Wes referenced from Isaiah 6, that “In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord.” When one generation had passed it was time for another generation to come through. As the long-time King had finished his reign, it was the moment for Isaiah to start his ministry.   This theme was very much on the mind of the apostle Paul when he was coming to the end of his life. Paul had had an amazing ministry spreading the gospel in a hostile culture and establishing great churches all over the Roman empire. The Roman Empire was powerful, brutal, sensual, and antichrist to its core. And yet the Christianity spread like wildfire across the world, with passion and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul, once a great enemy of the church until he had a life-changing encounter, was at the heart of it. But he realised his time was coming to an end. 2 Timothy 4:6-7: ‘the time for my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.’    Now his big focus was to see that his spiritual descendants, like Timothy who was a true spiritual son, would take up the baton and pass the faith onto many others. And so he laid out instructions of what Timothy would have to now focus on (2 Timothy 4:1-6). Paul’s words are not just historical, they are a challenge to us today and to everyone, especially younger people, who are called to step up in our generation. But how do we do it? How do we pick up the baton and carry the Gospel forward with courage and conviction? 1. We need to preach boldly (2 Timothy 4:2; Mark 16:15; 1 Timothy 4:13,16) 2. We need to always be ready (2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5-6) 3. We need to train up disciples (2 Timothy 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:16; Matthew 28:20) 4. We need to teach patiently (2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 11; 2 Timothy 2:24-25; Proverbs 22:6) 5. We need to keep calm in all circumstances (2 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV) 6. We need to endure (2 Timothy 4:5; Philippians 1:21) 7. We need to complete the work we are given (2 Timothy 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:58) Apply  1. We need to preach boldly (2 Timothy 4:2). This was Jesus’ call to His disciples as He sent them out (Mark 16:15). It’s the same instruction Paul gave to Timothy, and it is the same call for every believer, to go far and wide and share the good news: that through Jesus, the Son of God, we can be forgiven of our sin and that there is eternal life for those to choose to believe in Him. The world doesn’t need us to teach opinions; people not only need our testimony of what God has done in our life, but they need The Word of God too. This is what Charlie Kirk did so boldly going to campuses to share the gospel, to debate issues, to challenge ungodly indoctrination and to answer questions. Firstly we must focus on the Bible ourselves (1 Timothy 4:13,16). Each one of us must know the word at a new level, we must go deeper. We must go deeper. We must hunger to learn more in our devotional time with God every day so that we can teach the word effectively to those in our community. Then don’t just store up knowledge for ourselves, rather we are called to preach to gospel and give witness.   2. We need to always be ready (2 Timothy 4:2). Whatever the weather Timothy had to be ready to share the word of God: in the highs, lows, moments of convenience and inconvenience. Sharing the word isn’t just for a Sunday or a Life Group meeting. Opportunities to speak life come at unexpected times: lunch breaks, coffee shops, even on social media. At late night and early morning people are crying out for help. We are in a world where so many people are plagued by depression and under the hold of darkness, and Jesus is the answer. The enemy is trying everything he can to spread lies. We need to stand up and speak the truth (1 Peter 3:15; Colossians 4:5-6). Christians in our nation have been silent for too long, living in the comfort of their own beliefs, but it is time to break out from our comfort zones where the enemy wants to keep us, and go out boldly with God’s word in our mouths to make the most of every opportunity.   3. We need to train up disciples (2 Timothy 4:2). Few like correction but it is necessary for growth. Timothy had to learn to disciple others through the word of God, and true discipleship includes correction and rebuke, but always with love (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out and make disciples of all nations, and that people needed to be trained to obey Him (Matthew 28:20). We have to disciple people lovingly, training them in the word and helping them to develop a strong, enduring faith so they will have the character of Jesus, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, have conviction of right from wrong, confess their sins, and live in humility under God’s authority.   4. We need to teach patiently (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul knew a lot about patience. When the first Christians were won in Antioch, in Acts 11 we read he spent a year there with Barnabas teaching a great number of people. They invested a whole year training the people in the word and about the principles of the God. Paul showed patience with Timothy, mentoring him over time, encouraging him despite his youth and his fears. He gave Timothy careful instructions and reminders, trusting him with responsibility and strengthening his confidence in ministry. We must be like the farmer, sowing the seed of the truth of God and patiently tending the soil so that in time our hearers blossom and become mature in their understanding. Jesus showed patience with His disciples by teaching and correcting them even when they doubted or failed. He used their mistakes as lessons and continued to guide them with love, preparing them to carry His message. And they were prepared (2 Timothy 2:24-25; Proverbs 22:6). In the same way, we must be patient to train new baby Christians so that through every situation they shall have steadfast faith in God.   5. We need to keep calm in all circumstances (2 Timothy 4:5). Paul was urging Timothy to stay calm and steady in his faith, even when challenges came. Opposition, lies, and challenges will come - but stay steady. Keep your eyes on Jesus and your mission (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). We need the wisdom and council of the Holy Spirit to keep us on track and sweet. To see beneath the depths of others resistance to the root at the heart.   6. We need to endure (2 Timothy 4:5). Paul’s life was a living example to Timothy of keeping going in all circumstances. He stayed steady in faith through shipwrecks, beatings, and prison, never letting hardship stop him. He devoted himself to spreading the gospel everywhere he went, and he faithfully carried out the mission God gave him right to the end of his life. Paul was totally sold out to being a faithful witness for Christ whatever the troubles and pressures (Philippians 1:21). Have you given yourself fully to God?  7. We need to complete the work we are given (2 Timothy 4:5). We need to complete the work God has called us to do. We need to evangelise, to disciple new believers, and serve His ministry. This nation will change when we let our light shine. It is time to take the lamp out from under a bowl and tell this nation what Jesus has done for us (1 Corinthians 15:58). God is calling us to a new level of commitment. Go deeper in the Word, win souls, train disciples, endure hardships, and fully commit to the mission. Every believer has a role. So let us rise, shine, and proclaim Jesus boldly to a world in desperate need. Now is the time to pick up the baton.

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