ONE OF THESE THREE YOU WILL BE

The ingredients you use, determine the outcome of your dish.

Coffee- salt instead of sugar; Cinnamon instead of cayenne pepper; ketchup instead of cocktail sauce

Acts begins with Peter and quickly becomes a biography of Paul; and for the next 14 books we have Paul’s writings. 2Tim4 is Pauls final words. As is his style he is not afraid to name names.

Three of these men epitomize all Christianity; You are or will become one of these three.

2Tim 49 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

1. Demas The deserter- departed 68AD

What he loved- “this present world”1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Who he left- “forsaken me”1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

What he did- “departed unto Thessalonica”

1John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. Matt 18:7-8 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

Demas The deserter- departed

2. Luke The doctor- was dedicated

Prologue to the Gospel of Luke, a document thought to date to the 2nd or 4th century, claims that the following [the only part preserved in the original Greek—may have been composed in the late 2nd century]:

Luke, was born in Antioch; by profession, was a physician. He had become a disciple of the apostle Paul and followed Paul until his [Paul's] martyrdom. Having served the Lord continuously, unmarried and without children, filled with the Holy Spirit he died at the age of 84 years.

Luke was a companion of Paul for at least 16years. Luke is the “beloved physician” (Col 4:14 64 ADLuke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you). He was with Paul on his trips in Acts (52AD-“we”Acts 16:10-17, 20:556AD-“us”, 21:1-760AD-“we”) and here [2 Tim. 4] with Paul until his execution.

Luke 1:1-4 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. Phlm 1:24 62 ADMarcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. 2Tim 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Matt 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Paul the Picture of “Church-age” Christian has the Physician with him till the “end of the world”-Mat 28:20.

Demas The deserter- departed

Luke The doctor- was dedicated

3. Mark The demonstrator- was diligent

John Mark deserted Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 15:36-39). Mark proved himself by serving faithfully with Barnabas in Cyprus

Acts 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

and with Peter in Babylon 1Pet 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

During Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, Mark came to help him. Paul accepted him as a fellowlaborer

Phlm 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers

and recommended his ministry to the Colossian church Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;

Mark was an early failure but was not content to be defined by it. Mark was “profitable” not only to Paul but Barnabas and Peter; not to mention the individuals in those churches.

Acts 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying. Acts 13:5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. Acts 13:13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. Acts 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. Acts 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 1Pet 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

One foolish decision can destroy your life; or a life-time of diligence can direct your outcome.

Demas departed Luke was dedicated Mark was diligent