God Rewards His Children

Precious Rewards

2 Timothy 4

As we close out the 2 Books of Timothy, next week will begin with a few lessons in the Book of Titus.

We should not forget this second book written in the name of Timothy were the last written words of the Apostle Paul.

It was written from Rome as Paul was arrested the second time by Nero, for preaching the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.

This time Paul was sentenced to death by beheading, and again Paul was content that his life would soon be coming to an end and he would be going home to be with the Lord!

The truth is, we live in a world that is bombarded with messages of hope, yet all we can see is a world that is becoming more and more corrupt because our world offers no hope for true life.

My hope is that we could see one more worldwide revival and thousands or even billions would come to know the Lord Jesus Christ on a personal level that begins with love and remains as love because we have such a great love letter from our Savior!

The message of the Word of God is so simple that many do not understand the simplicity of salvation, but one thing must happen. The Holy Spirit must convict us of our sin!

The only lasting hope for all mankind is a personal relationship with Jehovah God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great "I AM" of the Scriptures.

The Word of God is so important that the Lord called special men and then equipped them to preach the "Gospel Message" of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead "at his appearing" and "his kingdom";

2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

What is the work of that Preacher who is called of God? Number one He is to preach.

I think it would be good to mention that in all the pastoral epistles we find nowhere in the Scriptures where any female is authorized to preach the Word of God and the Word of God gives no indication that any woman should become the Pastor of any of the sheep of God who is the Good Shepherd of all His sheep!

In fact, it takes only one Scripture to prove my point!

1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

What we know is that Timothy was a single man called to be Pastor in the Church at Ephesus.

For a married man called of God, he must meet the qualifications set down in what we call the pastoral Epistles, the 2 Books of Timothy and Titus, after first becoming a "Born Again" child of God.

In this one passage we see that the husband must be blameless and have only one wife and could even mean one wife at a time, but this one passage eliminates the woman who could never be the husband of one wife. If it turned out to be a couple in the LBGT movement then it cannot be any part of the church!

So, God commands that those men He has personally chosen, are to preach the Word of God.

How many false men behind the pulpits of America and even this world have rejected the Word of God and preached every version but the truth of God?

A Preacher, whether you say Pastor, Bishop, or any other name is to Preach the Word of God and this means every passage in the Bible, all 31,173 verses in the context that they were written, rightly divided.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

We saw this Scripture last week and it has not changed, nor will it ever change!

It is a fact that we will be judged for every evil thing we have done since coming to know Savior but without a doubt that Pastor will be judged for every message he has preached all the time he has been called to be a pastor.

God is watching us all but there is much more written about God watching those who deal falsely with the truth of the Word of God!

The most important reason to preach the pure truth of God is the fact that we will all be judged by the same Word of God that is be preached.

I personally trust the King James Version Bible because it is an English translation from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. I also realize that King James himself was an evil man who I never hear of changing. The King James Bible has nothing to do with King James except to say that he may have paid to have this work done and even then, not having the right intentions. As God does, He makes good things come from bad intentions!

I would stay away from any other English translation and those who use any of the other languages should gauge their own translation by those same Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.

Every work of the Christian must be good enough, not to satisfy men, but to satisfy Jesus Christ (Christlike)!

We must clearly understand that if the Lord gave such a command to "Preach" then He is certainly not trying to hide anything from us and He will greatly judge all those who do try to hide the truth of God from us.

In fact, the truth of God simply cannot be hidden from those who are seeking the truth but easily hidden from those who will sit and listen to anything from every "so-called" man of God!

No one is perfect and myself far from that, but we are all to search the Scriptures, so we will know the truth when we hear it and it is not that hard because God will never hide the truth from us!

The man has never lived who can outsmart God!

Psa_2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Psa_59:8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

The one thing that stands out in this passage is the fact that The Lord says to preach the Word of God and does not mean to preach any other matter to those who are listening! This is a sharp command to preach.

This is to take the Word of God and make sense of the Word so all those listening can understand, with the vigor to make sure they hear what God has to say!

This is so the Holy Spirit can do His work of conviction!

There are many Preachers and Pastors who have no problem with the preaching of God's Word. Where many fail they do not exhort those who are hearing to take the Word of God in to their hearts and apply it to their daily life.

God has already proved that He is longsuffering and even says so and all those who receive the Word of God into their hearts can be gloriously saved but even God has a limit with His longsuffering.

Isa 63:10 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

We already know that God does not ever changed His perfect ways and He never will!

Why are all these things so very important? Because of the time we have arrived at today in the Church Age!

*****2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

We should clearly understand that in the day Paul wrote these words to Timothy and the Church, false doctrine was already entering the Church!

The human being is still a basically sinful creature, since the time of Adam and we will use ever method thought of to avoid hearing the truth of our sinfulness. This is the Holy Ghost's first obstacle in convicting us of our sin!

The human being will seek out words that will be suited more to their desires and their fancies!

It is just a fact and even more so, when they only receive partial truths or the Word of God is not drilled into those fancies. Most every one that hears the Word of God that is preached as commanded, will know when they hear the truth and it is then it becomes time to make a decision to accept the truth or reject the truth, but the truth is understood and not many will do so the very first time they truly understand the Word of God.

The Preacher is to also be patient! Salvation is nothing to be toyed with. It is the most important decision any of us will make and it is the right decision!

God will continue to send His Words to individuals until the Holy Spirit says that it is enough! God said my Spirit will not always strive with man!

Church history has already proven that this happened early to the Churches in Asia and Paul even commented upon this same thing.

2Ti 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

These are the 7 churches in the Book of Revelation, but we must also remember that these are also the 7 Ages of the Church nearing its end.

Only one Church the Church of Philadelphia will remain completely faithful to the Lord.

All six of the other churches became apostate in one way or the other with the greatest apostacy of leaving the first love of the church or the foundation which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

I believe this is where we are at in the USA and most of the rest of the world where the church is not still on fire for God! In fact, the USA has become one of the biggest mission fields in the entire world when it was once known as a godly nation!

We must also know that if we are not on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ, then we can also be considered to be an apostate Church!

People turn away from God simply because they have rejected the truth and do not want to hear the truth, not even considering the consequences of such a rebellion against our Holy God!

The Bible is very clear! When you turn away from the foundation of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, then Satan will have a man or even some woman who will teach unto you vain fables to make you feel good about the false church!

They will tell you anything that sounds close to the truth without having any truth in it.

Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Sinful man simply wants teachers who will allow them to live as they please, without hearing anything about sin or Hell, or even Heaven.

For such people these places will become places that simply do not exist!

We must pray for such people and God still loves them!

But we must not ever be fooled the only way any one can be saved is to surrender to the whole truth of God!

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

We must realize that myths and fables exist in every religion but not in Christianity!

*****2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

When God gives us a ministry then we are to make full proof of that ministry God has given to us!

It is obvious that when we look around we can see many so-called men of God who just do not remain faithful to their ministry!

A true minister of God will suffer more hardships than most because they have a target on their back for those who follow Satan to fire their fiery darts.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Not every man of God will be traveling preachers because many are chosen to Pastor a church. For any ministry the object must remain to seek to win souls in everything that is done, even in discipleship training, the object is to seek those that the Lord can save.

The Lord Jesus has passed this baton to the church!

Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

We should not forget the circumstances of the Apostle Paul as the Holy Spirit gave him these words.

*****2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Paul knows his punishment will be death by beheading but his knowledge of going home to be with the Lord far outweighs anything this world could do to him!

The very last act we as Christians must do is give our bodies as a sacrifice back to the Lord, who will then even resurrect that body at the "rapture of thee Church". That saved soul will be in Heaven at the last breath of that body.

When we give our life to the Lord, He will still require the death of that body at a time of His choosing!

To depart from this world and to move into that place prepared for us by the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest blessing we can receive in this world and the beginning of true life!

**Paul said death was no more than a departure from this world and finally going home!

We must remember when we are in the Army of God we must live our life as a faithful soldier. We should clearly understand, God has an all-volunteer Army and we must be committed to the fight!

This world no longer has any real importance to that soldier in God's Army!

In the end we should all be able to say we have fought a good fight. In fact, our rewards will be based on our fight in the army of God!

**Paul said he had remained in his race and he had finished his course, he had completed his race in this life!

We must discipline our lives to the commandments of God and follow the Lord as our example right up till the end!

A true runner will never stop in the middle of a race. This would include taking care of that body that we have been given and following the lead of the Lord.

**Paul had kept the faith!

We must be good stewards of the Word of God. The Lord has given us the ability for our faith to grow. When we are saved we have sworn our allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. Even through all the sufferings of the Apostle Paul, when he could have thrown up his hands and laid his faith aside, but he had claimed that faith and he held onto his faith all the way to Heaven's gates where he was welcomed in the arms of the Lord!

We serve a righteous God who will Himself present a "crown of righteousness" to all those who have followed in the steps of the Apostle Paul!

Think about that for a minute!

The King of all the Ages make a presentation to a dirty rotten sinner like me, and like you, a Crown of Righteousness.

It is only then that we will have been made perfect in the eyes of the Lord!

Now if you are not looking and preparing for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ then you will miss out on such a precious gift that we will all just toss back to the Savior's feet.

How can I be worthy of such a thing? Have I truly finished my course? Have I been a consistent soldier in the army of God? Have I kept the faith as did Paul? Have I been true to the Lord once He saved me? Will I even have a crown to toss to the feet of Jesus?

1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

What did the Lord advise us all to?

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

This is what happens to those who fall into the trap of false preachers and false teachers!

One of the things that Paul wanted and could be fulfilled before his death was to spend just a little more time with this young man Timothy before he went home to be with the Lord.

We can learn many things in these last breathes of the Apostle Paul.

*****2Ti 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

2Ti 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

2Ti 4:12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

We should understand that until we get to Heaven, human companionship is a necessary thing. The most important of those would be our family and our church family who we know we will spend eternity with. Timothy was close to the heart of the Apostle Paul.

We should also understand that though the Christian life is the greatest life while we are upon this earth, but there are certainly times when every believer needs help!

No doubt Demas was believed to a part of Paul's church family but when he realized that he could die because of his beliefs it was too much for him to commit to.

Demas loved this present world more than he loved the Lord Jesus and Paul was hurt by his leaving. It is a terrible thing for someone who has been involved in the ministry of the Lord to give up on the Lord when times get hard. They too just reject the truth!

Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Mat 26:57 And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

We see these things happening all over our nation today who prefer to be politically correct rather stick to the proven truth!

It should be obvious that worldliness is fatal to God's plan of salvation.

The Lord Jesus said this was a sign of the end of the Church Age!

Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Timothy was the Pastor in Ephesus until He was also murdered by the government and this is no reflection on his preaching, but it is a sign of the Church Age we live in today.

For some unknown reason Titus had to return to his own ministry but we should consider that Dalmatia was also a Roman province and persecution was no doubt an issue here.

This is the only mention of Crescens in all the Scriptures, but tradition says he was one of the seventy disciples of Christ Jesus who was sent to preach and no doubt Crescens also had to return to his ministry in Galatia also a Roman province.

Luk_10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Luk_10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Doctor Luke remained with Paul right up to the end. We should not doubt that Luke was certainly a highly skilled medical missionary!

We also see that Mark was near to Ephesus and Paul needed someone to take over his jail ministry and Mark was a great value to the Lord for such things.

We know from past studies that Tychicus had been sent to deliver these epistles of Paul many times which shows the importance of such men who take the Word of God to places it is not allowed.

We should also understand that the Church has no power when the world is allowed to enter into it!

We cannot be politically correct and obey the Word of God at the same time!

We next see that there are other things that Paul held dear all of his days after he met the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus!

I pray we all remember our day on the Damascus road forever more!

When we lay on death's bed we need to remember what is truly important to us.

*****2Ti 4:13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

No doubt that this Roman prison was a cold dark place and Paul left his heavy coat in Troas. Just so we know when Timothy found Mark and then to Troas it was a 600-mile journey to Rome in a time when walking was the most used transportation.

No doubt that some books were at that available and Paul had some favorites, but these could still be scrolls containing the Word of God which is probably more accurate but at least we know that Paul enjoyed reading!

Those parchments were probably animal skins that had been prepared for writing. These things would outlast paper because they were more durable.

Paul is in prison, he cannot preach nor, can he teach but he could keep his mind active by reading and studying from some books that he had chosen. I'm sure the Scriptures were among them!

Paul's life as a Christian missionary had certainly been harsh at times!

*****2Ti 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

2Ti 4:15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Since not much is known about this Alexander, then must just accept what Paul is saying. We can also understand that Timothy all knew of this person.

It is believed that this is the same Alexander of Ephesus who was a leader in a certain union of metal workers making idols to the false goddess Diana.

Diana was a goddess in Roman mythology and the Greeks called her Artimus. In Ephesus was the Temple of Diana, once listed as one of the seven wonders of this world.

This Alexander was a Jew and the Jews had developed an extreme hatred for the Apostle Paul.

We still see that answer lies in the fact that when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, anything we place over our Lord then becomes our god.

We should be able to see that money was the god of Alexander and not Diana nor the Lord Jesus Christ and he was truly an evil man!

There is a real possibility that this same Alexander testified against the Apostle Paul at his first answer, as he puts it!

It seems that today, even more Christians are turning against other Christians effectively killing the Holy Ghost Power in the Church.

*****2Ti 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

2Ti 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Here again we see another instance where Paul followed in the ways of Jesus Christ as he asks God the Father to forgive all those who had forsaken him.

We can also see that Paul would stand before Nero one more time. We may all stand before our own government one day just because we know the truth and accept the truth of God. We will never stand alone for though the whole world abandoned us, the Lord Jesus Christ will never leave our side the whole time.

We should not miss a very important point here. The Lord Jesus Christ was abandoned by all those who followed Him and was delivered by God the Father, The Lord Jesus Christ will deliver all those who call upon His name.

Paul knew He was going to his death, but he wanted every Christian to realize he would be delivered out of the mouth of the lion, that "roaring lion" Satan himself because, Satan holds no power over our death, because our life lies in the hands of our Holy God!

As long as our "faith" lies in work of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation, our life is held securely in the hand of God!

The Lord informed Paul that because he had remained faithful to the "gospel"; and the Holy Spirit had been the mind behind all the Epistles of Paul, that every Gentile would at some time, hear and understand the lifesaving Word of God, "The Truth" of life!

Php 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

Php 1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

What is true deliverance?

*****2Ti 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

If we could all just hold to the truth of this Scripture, all our worries in this world would vanish and stay away!

We as Christians have been delivered from a Devil's Hell. It is in the past, we have already been delivered! We have been preserved to live out eternity wherever the Lord our God abides in His Heavenly Kingdom!

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

At the death of our body, in one moment of time, "the twinkling of an eye", our life in this world will cease and our life will begin wherever God is at!

Some say a twinkling is 11/100's of a second. This means it will be very quick!

One moment we are a citizen of this world and the next moment we will be at our new home in Heaven!

We will never have the taste of death in our mouths!

Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

While we remain in this body, we should remember everyone who have made a difference in our lives!

*****2Ti 4:19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

2Ti 4:20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

2Ti 4:21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

2Ti 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen

We should also remember that these are the very last words of the Apostle Paul.

Paul would always send greetings from those who were with him and also to those he was writing to.

If there was ever a woman who could take on the role as Pastor, it would be Priscilla, but she remained with her husband Aquila and they both helped Paul in any way that they could.

They had been driven from Rome by the Emperor Claudius and had met Paul in Corinth and they made friends quickly because they were all tent makers.

They accompanied Paul to Ephesus, later again they went back to Rome where they allowed their house to be a church, where God's people could assemble.

Again, they were run out of Rome and it seems they settled in Ephesus.

No doubt these two Christians were a great help to Timothy. Priscilla was a great example of the godly wife and would work tirelessly in the church at Ephesus.

Onesiphorus was a Christian from Ephesus who had shown a great kindness to Paul while he was in that Roman jail. No doubt that this entire family had been a precious family to the Apostle Paul.

Erastus was also a companion of Paul at Ephesus who had been sent with Timothy to Macedonia while Paul traveled in Asia. He was a native of Corinth.

Trophimus had traveled with Paul on his 3rd missionary journey. He was with Paul in Jerusalem. He was that Gentile Paul was accused of taking into the Temple which meant the Temple was made unclean until a ceremony of cleanness could be performed.

It seems that Trophimus was too sick to travel to Rome to assist the Apostle Paul in his own last days.

It was difficult for ships to travel the Mediterranean Sea in the winter months and Paul wanted to see Timothy before this time and he certainly wanted that cloak.

Eubulus was another Christ who had helped Paul while he was in that Roman dungeon.

Pudens was a friend of Timothy's who after the death of Paul was also murdered by Nero.

Linus is said to have become the Pastor of the Church in Rome after Peter had been murdered.

It is believed that this Claudia was the wife of Pudens and both of them may have come from royal families, she being from Britain.

When Paul said all the brethren then he was referring to all those of the Church that day and today!

All brethren have the same Father, God the Father, and are brothers and sisters to the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ and filed with God the Holy Spirit!

Without wearing the seal of God, you cannot be in this family!

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Paul loved all those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

Amen!

Let's Pray!

Perilous Times Near the End of Church Age

Precious Provision

Book of 2 Timothy 3

This Lesson will show us that according to the Word of God, we are in the last days of the Church Age. Remember the New Testament is written to the Church, even though we are still to become familiar with both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

We may also realize that our Lord knows this world is headed for trouble and He does want the church to work even harder at this time and not get caught up in all the distractions that are going on.

It amazes me that politicians use distractions, so they can ignore what they were put in office to do!

Everything going on in the politics of today are a distraction from the truth of what needs to be done!

We know that the Lord is soon coming to free the Redeemed and take them on home to Heaven. For all those who may disagree, the return of Christ is mentioned more than 300 times just in the New Testament! The Lord will return just as He has said He will!

Christ will return, and His return will be a literal, physical event! Jesus will return in the same way and the same place from where the disciples saw Him leave. This will be about seven years after He will lay claim to His Church.

Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Before these things can happen, the great falling away and our last chance to get busy for the Lord, we will experience what the Holy Spirit calls, "perilous times".

*****2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

As Christians we must be well aware of where we are on God's celestial clock!

God knows the church will see some hard times before the Lord returns to take us all home.

Now the Church will not go through the seven-year Tribulation period, but we will witness that period, called the last days of the Church Age!

The pulpits of the Church must preach of this perilous season that we have entered because all the Word of God must be preached!

We may even be witnessing the closing out of the time of preaching the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ, during the Church Age!

The Church Age began at the Lords Death and was guaranteed by His Resurrection from that death to "New Life"!

It is these days that will soon be coming to an end, and then the Lord will begin His work with the Jews as He promised!

These difficult times we are seeing, will not be about the treacherous things we are witnessing in our world.

These times will not be described as a loss of provisions, since these things are in the hand of God and He makes some serious promises that He will never break about providing our needs.

These times will not be about great wars that will continue to happen latter or of this profane world.

No, these last days will be the days that wickedness that have now come to the forefront in all the societies of this world!

We could say wickedness and has come out of the closet and is now in full view throughout this world!

Peter had these words:

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

John had these words:

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

This Scripture has never been truer than it is now!

There are many today that say our world is not that bad but, they have approved evil and rejected the Church in every way they can.

We live in a nation that is divided according to the Word of God, those who declare the truth of God's Word and those who will accept any and all types of immorality, calling it freedom.

Even some who are evil themselves, do also detest the evil that is seen today!

We must always remember that we are only better than any of those by the "Grace" of God!

By that same "Grace" they can be our equals in the Church!

The good thing that we must keep in mind is, that the Lord could come at any moment to get His Bride!

We have seen the gay lifestyle, rejected by the true Church because it is condemned by the Word of God. As God says this lifestyle is just sin as all sin is and all sin is condemned by the Word of God!

The only sin that will keep the sinner from receiving the free gift of salvation, is the sin of rejecting the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to pay the sin debt of all humanity.

So, what we are seeing is, that we are beginning to live in a godless world that will come in its entirety after the Church is removed by the Lord.

It is only the Church filled with the Holy Spirit that can hold back the evils of this world, if our "faith" remains!

Listen as the Holy Spirit describes our societies in today's era. We should be afraid to preach these same words with vigor!

*****2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit gave these words to Paul to describe the world we live in today!

We live in a world where most every human wants to please their own happiness "at the expense of all others"!

The Word of God will never change!

2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, "that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves", but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

In the days of Paul, he had witnessed many of these sins in his travels, especially in the Greek and Roman societies of that day!

Never has these Scriptures written to Timothy been truer, than they are today! We truly live in a wicked godless world!

Many of those who have the power to change things, do not want to for some unrealistic goal they have of changing America from a free society to some socialist society, knowing that most of the nations that have done the same, have all failed but maybe two who are communist.

AND, their own people have little or no freedoms left!

Any time we put ourselves before the written Word of God and the God who wrote it, we have made our own selves to be gods with no power!

It is very evident that we are seeing the last days of the Church and the Lord said to His Bride to make herself ready and strive for perfection!

It is the day of people who turn to and fro not knowing which way to go, and confusion brings tension and tension brings division!

Self-love is when someone has made themselves god and feel like nothing matters but having their own style of pleasure themselves.

They will be lovers of money and their possessions and cling to those things as if to change, would be their end!

They will covet more and more!

What did King Solomon find?

Ecc 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Have you noticed all the people who either have a job or do not have a job, but they have the time to go protest and carry around signs either showing what they stand for? Most of those signs cannot be read and certainly not understood but they still brag about the evil they are doing?

Many of these people must have things their own way, while at the same time denying those same rights to those who oppose them!

All those from both sides who look down on others, are also the blame for what is going on in our nation today.

Pride is a deadly act to follow and it will normally lead to destruction!

Have you ever seen such a time, where people will slander those who do not think like they do? This is our world today!

That so-called millennial bunch, will do anything to grab attention but in the end, they will not accomplish anything for their own beliefs. The politicians will abandon them after they get their vote just as they have always done!

Tell me how much the lives of our black brothers improved under the previous administration. Who made gains? Not our black brothers and sisters.

Those of LBGT may have become free and come out of the closet but a rainbow of colors on the White House has not helped them at all because they did not get real help from the previous administration. Who made gains? Not those who claimed this evilness!

The only thing we have seen that is real is "hatred" has begun to run deep in our nation!

The only ones who prospered were Planned Parenthood who is not only in the business of killing unborn babies but have the nerve to sell internal organs from these murdered babies who are not considered to be humans. Who are those filthy sinners who made gains off unborn babies!

How many doctors, brain surgeons, or all types of valuable people did not get a chance because they were aborted?

We must understand that to one certain party, aliens, illegal immigrants and a few others are nothing but votes in an attempt to gain control of congress and never letting it go to fill their own pockets and those of their friends. (Look at the Clintons who had less than a million dollars when they left the White House claiming to be broke, who are now multimillionaires.

Those who are promoted by a certain group of people have just made merchandise of those who are illegally in our nation and are just as much slaves who are made merchandise and they are too blind to see it.

Sorry for venting here.

Even some of these will show a form of godliness but they will still deny the true power of our Savior who has life within His own self!

As Christians we need to flee from any association with these groups but pray for them and witness to them "Gospel" if we get the opportunity.

*****2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

In the day of Paul, the women would be at home more or less secluded, while their husbands would be at work or whatever they did to provide an income.

These false teachers used fraud and deceit to creep into these homes while the fathers were not at home. Their entrance into these homes was much like a weasel going about its business. Weasels are unclean animals, coming out of their burrows in the ground only at certain times of the day.

We should always be aware that the coming of the antichrist will be like Satan, as Satan first attacked the woman and not the man!

This not saying that every woman would be vulnerable. It is just saying that Satan can spot those who are vulnerable to his unique style of deceit.

We have already been observing that corruptness and compromising has begun to take center stage in what at one time was steadfast observance of the Word of God and this cannot be denied except by those who are guilty of these things.

This is not only in America but worldwide!

We should understand that the keeping and the teaching of the children and the teaching of the lady’s classes is all that the Lord has offered to the precious ladies of the Church as the Church is to operate just as the Christian home and family is to operate.

With the false ministries of today, the ladies have been offered roles in the Church that the Lord has said no to but we see more of every day now even including gay ministers and female ministers that have taken away the fact that the Church is just an extension of the Christian family in which the Lord is the head, with the father being next, then that mother who also is to put the Lord before that husband but she is to follow after that husband in the order of things in the family, in the home, and in the church.

Those false leaders in the church have begun to teach their own truth disguising it as the truth of God which it is far from being true!

We have seen in many places that these false preachers along with their teachers have begun to take over one church after another.

For instance, many who have called themselves Baptist for years are filling the pews of the Jehovah's Witness, because they never had proper discipling in the places of worship where they had attended.

We should understand that the false preacher will always have some new notion or some new practice that will lead those who trust them deeper and deeper into a false religion that they simply will not recover from.

The false preacher will always deny the power of godliness, which is the one thing that is the mark of the true Church!

The false preacher will teach a works doctrine that has always been denied by the Lord.

We have no work to do in order to be saved and we have no works to do to keep us saved! Do not ever believe this lie straight from Hell!

God will expect for us to work after our salvation, but it has nothing to do to keep our salvation. We are expected to be witnesses of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible.

This one thing , "Jesus Christ the God of the Bible", is the stumbling block for many just as God has said!

*****2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

2Ti 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

We should understand, these who would preach and teach a false message are not just going to be afraid and run whenever we know the truth of their message.

The members of the average church will not have the knowledge of the Word of God to counter act the deceiving message from them.

Jannes and Jambres were the sorcerers and magicians that went against Moses.

Exo 7:10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.

Exo 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

Exo 7:22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.

Exo 8:7 And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.

Exo 8:18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.

We had better understand that Jannes is not to be got rid of with a laugh, nor Jambres with a smile of indifference. Those of the same that exist today are a source of constant danger, and their presence in the professing Church does more to paralyze its testimony than all the outward opposition and persecution it has ever met.

They will be hard to unseat even when they are found out to be nothing more than cheap magicians.

When Satan entrenches himself into the church, we will see power like we have never seen, and these are the things that will take place in the great falling away of God's people.

Only when these things begin to happen in those houses of God that have defended the "Grace" of God continuously, will they will be sent from the church after much damage.

A deceiving so called Christian, will fade away at the continuous bombardment of the truth of God!

Those who have a form of godliness, will always deny the power of God and in the end, saying only man can have such power.

We must know that it is only by the power of God that His truth will always come to the front with its life saving "Grace"!

We can say what we will, but every age since Noah has felt like it was the new age and saw more life and truth that the previous one.

This has been true for true science and technology and medicines but not true in human life and human behavior!

The truth of human behavior is that it becomes more sinful than the previous generation!

God says, "be sure your sin will find you out", every false teacher and false preacher will be exposed in the day Christ returns.

2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

There will be some in the Church that will go up in the Rapture and leave that false preacher behind, with those who have trusted him!

Now let's compare the true God called Pastor.

*****2Ti 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

When Timothy was chosen to be the Pastor of Ephesus, it was because Paul knew that besides age, Timothy was much like the Apostle Paul.

Timothy had followed the godly example that was the Apostle Paul!

Paul had lived a godly life and Timothy had followed in His footsteps!

This is what discipling is all about!

The doctrine that Paul taught was the "Apostle's Doctrine" given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is the same doctrine that must be taught today, with even more vigor for we are certainly in the last days of the Church Age!

Godly people will follow godly preachers!

Godliness is based upon the truth of our Substitute, The Lord Jesus Christ!

1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

No person can live godly unless he learns godliness.

No person can teach godliness unless he follows godliness in others.

To be a disciple of the Lord is to follow the godly practices of the Lord!

We can understand that Paul practiced what he preached while he still acknowledged that he was far from perfect!

The greatest example of the Apostle Paul was that he lived what he preached, and we should expect this from every Pastor and not only him but we ourselves.

It is a fact that many young pastors who have answered the call of God may acknowledge those who discipled them but most of them prefer to go their own way and most of them will get discouraged and quit on God.

To all those who have godly examples then they need to follow them as they grow in the "Gospel".

Php 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

God has set some people in our lives to learn the good from!

God will also set some people in our area, so we can know what not to do!

God has given to us Jesus Christ and He is to be our example. If we know an elder who is following Christ, then he too can be an example for us to follow such as the Apostle Paul.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Most every Christian understands the wrong meaning of patience.

Patience is not the spirit that just sets back and puts up with trials of life, taking whatever this world throws at them quietly.

Patience is standing up and meeting the trials of life head-on. Patience is actively going out to conquer and overcoming those things that hinder us.

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

What does the Lord say?

Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

We cannot get saved and then do nothing, it is sin to not get into the war with evil!

Thank goodness the Lord has a good hold on to my soul because I would just lose it again!

*****2Ti 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Notice Paul does not stress all the times he was persecuted, he only mentions those that Timothy has seen with his own eyes or he at least knew about.

In Antioch the city government had tossed Paul out of their city.

In Iconium some from the government and a large mob tried to arrest Paul causing him to flee for his own safety.

In Lystra another mob stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, leaving him for dead.

But our miracle working God, the Lord Jesus Christ, saved Paul out of all these things and we already know that God is no respecter of people.

He still has the power to save and help every disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Throughout all these things Paul remained faithful to the work of the Lord, this is the truth of what godly patience is all about!

We cannot escape the fact that we are going to suffer some persecution.

We cannot escape the fact that Satan will send some of his followers to hinder us as we go about serving Christ!

We cannot escape the fact that we are aliens in this world and for a world to be so tickled to meet some alien, they will treat them no better than they will the Christian.

God simply says to just come out from them and be separate and be patiently working until He comes to take us home.

We will not be able to avoid persecution on some level before we go home to meet the Lord!

*****2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

When we refuse to walk the paths of this world, we will get noticed and we will not be liked!

The world we live subsidizes sin and when we speak of sin in a negative way it will only make those in the world mad even if it is the truth!

We already know this world we live in, does not want to hear the truth!

We will be persecuted by most all those, that reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

We live in a world that have decided to make themselves to be gods and they want to live by their own ways and hate all those who are different!

We live in a world where many so-called places of worship have compromised the Word of God, so they can be friends to the world.

We live in a world that is deceived by its concept and belief in the One true God!

Joh 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

Joh 16:3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

God is not some Supreme Grandfather who will cause no harm to those that reject Him but that He will not accept everything they do.

They just cannot understand the "Love of God" but He is also "just” and He demands "righteousness" from us all!

In fact, not only this but God demands "faith"!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Remember God said persecutions and hatred for all those who believe is only going to get worse. This does not mean that God will not save us out of them all as He did for Paul, but the world as a whole will continue to get worse!

*****2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

We must understand if we look out at the world today and then again tomorrow we will see a world that has gotten worse.

The world has gotten worse because the church is full of evil men and seducers and have quenched the Holy Spirit, who is the power of the true Church.

These evil men pictured here may have a form of godliness but who actively oppose righteousness and morality that God calls for from all those who claim the Lord Jesus Christ.

These seducers are those are imposters and deceivers in the church, who are hypocrites calling themselves Christian.

Many of these join the church just to be able to take advantage of the true Christian. In another place God calls them "tares".

We must remember that God has already judged the lost and they are already sentenced to eternal death.

God says the church will be judged first and these evil men and seducers will receive their evil reward that day.

We should see that these things are waxing worse and worse on each passing day.

We could say, well it is easy to see this happening in Rome but in truth every so-called denomination has allowed these things to happen!

Before you choose a denomination, choose Jesus Christ and only attend a place of worship where the Love of Christ Jesus still abounds.

What was the same for Timothy and the Church at Ephesus, is the same for every church today! I choose Jesus Christ!

1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1Jn 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

This is the only way to be acceptable to God the Father, and we must never be confused. Confusion brings with it death!

We will continue to see repeatedly men who use religion for their own selfish purpose which begin with a livelihood and profession and continue with compromising the Word of God to keep the pews filled and their own pockets full!

The Apostle Paul had great concerns for these things happening and they have.

Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Act 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Act 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

There is only one answer, and this is to remain in Jesus Christ!

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Church and the Church cannot stand without its foundation!

*****2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

We must learn by the Scriptures and never let go.

We must never accept a new version of the Scriptures just because someone says it is easier to read. They are only easier to read because they have removed some of the truth!

We must always know the Scriptures enough to prove every teacher and every Pastor and those who preach against the truth of the Scriptures run them clean out the door and get someone who clings to the truth of God.

We cannot call ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ unless we abide in His truth and without Jesus you cannot get to Heaven. It is just that simple!

Joh_8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

It is only the Word of God that can make each of us wise unto salvation.

I certainly cannot understand why anyone would go against the Word of God and still say they are Christians. Christianity is the perfect wisdom of God!

God says to learn the Scriptures.

God says we can be assured that the Scriptures will apply to our lives.

God says make sure your teacher is teaching the truth of God.

God says we are to live in and by the Scriptures.

God says it is only by the Scriptures that we will become wise enough to be saved!

Then God says the sooner we get started the better off we will be. I will be quite honest, if you do not fall in love with the unchanging Word of God then you need to have your head examined!

It is only by the wisdom of God that we can know salvation and to ignore the Word of God brings death!

We are to never pick and choose like the Bible is a lunch buffet and discard the things we do not like!

*****2Ti 3:16 "All" scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Notice that word "all". It is not a mistake! God means what He says, and God says what He means!

To all those who pick and choose the Word of God like it is a food buffet, what do they do this Scripture? If the salvation message is true then so is this message from the Holy Ghost Inspired, Inerrant, Word of God.

Why do so many just want to die in their sin for rejecting the Word of God?

Some say that Paul was only speaking of the Old Testament Scriptures and that be great if that was all, but Paul had already realized the importance of Church Doctrine and this Second Book to Timothy are the last written words of the Apostle Paul.

There may be many who disagree but just maybe they have not realized that the New Testament teaches us the fulfillment of the Old Testament!

There is no doubt in my mind that God "breathed" out the Scriptures to all those who caused this love letter from God to be given to us!

God is saying it is the Scripture that is inspired and not the writer who in a sense, allowed God to use their hand, left or right to pin down all the Scriptures, New and Old!

We must understand that it is the same Holy Spirit who will open our eyes to the truth of God.

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

There is no doubt in my mind that God has preserved and protected His Holy Scriptures down through all the Ages!

If we want a personal relation with the Sovereign God of all creation then all the directions we need to know about Him, He has written down for us. Therefore, the Scriptures are so profitable for doctrine, which means the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We must acknowledge that God wants us to know as much about Him as we can and most of our world will not read and study the Word of God which has the answer every question that can be asked in this world concerning "life"!

God also makes known the results of those who reject His Words. These words are just as true as all those concerning life and life eternal.

It bugs me that so many want to know the secret to long life, yet they reject the one and only method of "eternal life"!

The truth is the Holy Spirit will lead us in only one direction and this is toward the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

It is these words Inspired by the Holy Spirit that will equips us to work toward equipping us to do the Work of the Lord, until He returns!

God says we are not only to read the Word of God, but we must study the Word of God, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit who caused it to be written!

Deu 17:19 And it (the Word of God) shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

It cannot get much plainer than these words written in the Book of Deuteronomy!

Amen.