Precious Promises
Book of 2 Timothy 2
Again, we are
learning ourselves as we study this letter written to Timothy that
would also be preached to all the New Testament Church establish by
the Lord Jesus Christ, the foundation of all Christianity.
We should know by
now that the Church is to be a mirror of God's "Grace" and
Oh how we fail as a whole!
"Grace" is
the undeserved favor of God, but every gift is useless unless it is
received in the "Grace" in which God gave it!
*****2Ti 2:1 Thou
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:2 And the
things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same
commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
God's "Grace",
that can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ, is the free gift that
God offers to every human being!
Eph 2:5 Even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved;)
It is by God's
"Grace" through, the Lord Jesus Christ, that we will be
able to live with God in Heaven!
Eph 2:6 And hath
raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the
ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
So, without the
"Grace of God" that comes by Jesus Christ, no one can know
what salvation is all about!
Eph 2:8 For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of
works, lest any man should boast.
Even when we were
already dead in sins, God our Father, "and He is our Father",
sent His Only Son to pay that debt we could never have paid in order
to know and receive His salvation plan.
Paul, by the Holy
Spirit, says we must be strong in "Grace", but not just any
"Grace", the "Grace" that comes by Jesus Christ!
It is only by this
"Grace" that we can be of any use to God!
1Co 15:10 But by
the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they
all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
It is only by the
"Grace" of God that we may receive any gift of God!
We must be strong in
the "Grace" of God!
Our Spiritual
strength comes by the source of all God's Strength, which comes by
our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!
Without a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ, we cannot know the "Grace"
of God!
We should understand
that at the time of this letter to Timothy, Paul was on death row in
a Roman prison for preaching the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.
Probably all the
remaining apostles except the Apostle John had already been murdered
and John was being sought after.
Paul's race was
almost over, and He was passing the baton over to this young man
Timothy, who was still on fire for God.
All the things Paul
preached, Timothy was to teach!
All the letters Paul
had written by the Holy Spirit, Timothy was to preach!
All the Old
Testament that was passed down by the Jews, Timothy was to preach!
Timothy was not like
Paul in his young body, but Timothy was to be like Paul in his
preaching and in his life style.
This was not
preacher worship, this was the making a true disciple!
This is the same
thing each and every church is called to do today, make disciples who
would preach the "apostles doctrine" given to them by the
words of Jesus and the Holy Ghost.
The key to be a true
Christian, is to endure as a good soldier in the army of God!
*****2Ti 2:3 Thou
therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4 No man that
warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may
please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
We already know, we
as the army of God are to dress properly by wearing the armor of God
that was not prepared for those who turn their backs on God.
1) God's armor was
all made for defense, because we are to defend the "Gospel"
of Jesus Christ.
2) God's armor was
made for us to go on offense with all the Word of God, which can only
lead to the Knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Again, this armor
has no protection for the rear!
Each Christian
believer is to be a strong soldier for Christ!
Every soldier for
Christ must be prepared to go to war!
There are many
soldiers who love to dress up in parade uniforms and march to the
delight of spectators, but these are not allowed in the army of God.
I can tell you from
experience that war is a dirty nasty business that requires hardship
and a true soldier of God will understand this before the battle
begins.
The only way to
avoid being a casualty in this war, is to not get entangled with the
affairs of this life!
Just for all those
who have seen all those old movies, the Roman soldier was not allowed
to have a wife. (Maybe why rape was a regular event)
The Roman soldier
was not allowed to be involved in any business or trade for profit,
and they were not allowed to teach their skills to others, they were
dedicated to only one thing and, that was the obedience to the
commands of their superiors!
Their call was
probably "rape, pillage, and burn" as it is in with most
armies on the battle front!
Understanding these
things, we can better understand some of the things Paul said by the
Holy Spirit.
1Co 7:1 Now
concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man
not to touch a woman.
1Co 7:2
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife,
and let every woman have her own husband.
Paul was seeking for
all those who would be on fire for God and to commit and devote
themselves to the furthering of the "Gospel"!
We must understand,
no matter who we are, we will suffer some persecution at the hands of
Satan, just as Preacher Sam has been preaching on the Tempter.
We are never to duck
and run, because we are to stand our ground.
If we give up one
inch of ground to Satan, then he has some wiggle room to start his
business of ruining your testimony for the Lord Jesus.
*****2Ti 2:5 And if
a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he
strive lawfully.
If we have any
knowledge of the recent Olympic Games, we know that the doping of
athletes was real a big story.
These athletes did
not strive lawfully in their sport and were disqualified, they were
not crowned the victor, nor could they compete!
What did the Lord
say?
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;
Luk_9:23 And he
said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
We must continue in
the Word of God that we now have, and deny the things of this world,
to be in the family of God!
The Olympic athlete
must dedicate his life and all he has in him, to have an opportunity
to be crowned.
It is no different
for the Christian who obeys the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must deny our
self and commit ourselves to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Being a Christian is
a 24/7 obligation!
The appointed
discipline, is Prayer.
The appointed diet,
is "all" the Word of God and Fasting.
The appointed
person, will be a child of God by Jesus Christ.
The appointed rule
book, will have been written by the Holy Ghost.
To be a Christian,
we must follow the Lord Jesus Christ! This is what gets the attention
of an evil world!
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.
Paul has taught us
as a teacher.
Paul has taught us
as a soldier.
Paul has taught us
as an athlete.
Paul will also teach
us as the farmer.
*****2Ti 2:6 The
husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
For the farmer to
partake of his own fruit, he must do much more than just cast some
seed to the ground.
He must labor
diligently, to clear the land and prepare the soil!
The farmer must be
diligent in knowing the proper season to plant!
The farmer must be
diligent to work his crop as it grows!
It is the diligent
farmer who will reap a reward in the season of harvest!
It is the diligent
Christian who will reap the greater reward at the "judgment seat
of Christ"!
It is the diligent
Christian who will be first rewarded at the "judgment seat of
Christ"!
Very few people have
the faith of the farmer who plants believing that God will provide
the Sun and the Rain in the proper amounts!
2Co 5:7 (For we
walk by faith, not by sight:)
2Co 5:8 We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and
to be present with the Lord.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore
we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of
him.
2Co 5:10 For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one
may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.
We must consider all
these words of Paul by the Holy Spirit!
*****2Ti 2:7
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all
things.
It is certain that
the Bible was not given to those who have not invited the Lord Jesus
to come into their hearts and their lives.
Without the Holy
Spirit who moves in, at the moment of salvation, we could never
understand what God is teaching us. The Bible was written for
Christians who were then to take that message to the world. For most
of us, this is our own community and our own workplace.
1Co 2:11 For what
man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we
have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God.
1Co 2:13 Which
things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,
but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he
that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no
man.
1Co 2:16 For who
hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we
have the mind of Christ.
It would not be
going against this Scripture, to understand that if the lost read the
Bible they can get saved because there is much power in the Word of
God. The Word of God is convicting, when it is believed!
It would not be
going against these words to realize that the Holy Spirit will always
be working in an area, ahead of time before God sends a missionary
into that area.
It is the same for
that person that God lays on your heart to go visit or to pray for.
God is working in
this world whether we are working or not!
The truth is, that
we cannot have the mind of Christ until we are filled with the Spirit
of Christ!
Rom_8:9 But ye are
not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God
dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none
of his.
We certainly must
meditate on all these things before our mind and our heart will be
pure enough to lead some lost soul to the Lord!
But we do not have
to be Bible Scholars!
What does Jesus ask
His disciples?
Mat 13:51 Jesus
saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto
him, Yea, Lord.
Mat 13:52 Then said
he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the
kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which
bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
We must meditate on
all these things and after this we must remember them and must
understand that the Word of God cannot be bound!
*****2Ti 2:8
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the
dead according to my gospel:
2Ti 2:9 Wherein I
suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God
is not bound.
If the Lord Jesus
Christ had not been of the seed of David, then He could not have been
the Messiah, and Christianity would be just another false religion.
If the Lord Jesus
Christ had not raised from the dead, then we would be claiming a
false religion and we would all still die in our sins!
God has given us the
means to know the truth and once we have heard the truth, it is time
to make a choice to believe the truth of God or to reject the truth
of God.
Joh 1:10 He was in
the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Joh 1:11 He came
unto his own, and his own received him not.
Joh 1:12 But as
many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name:
Joh 1:13 Which were
born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of
man, but of God.
Joh 1:14 And the
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth.
This world just
cannot get around the truth of God and makes many of them so mad it
becomes hate!
The Lord Jesus
Christ became a man, not giving up His Deity, to pay our sin debt,
that we had no means to pay!
The Lord Jesus
Christ became a man, not giving up His deity, to personally know
exactly what we face in life!
The truth is, there
is only One, who has ever been raised from the dead, to never die
again and it is the Lord Jesus Christ.
People can say what
they will and deny Our Lord, but no one can deny that the entire
world changed when our Savior rose from the dead!
The Lord Jesus
offers every person who is alive on this earth an opportunity to know
the truth!
For those that say
the Bible is just some old book do not realize it, but the Scriptures
were written for the days we are living in right now!
*****2Ti 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may
also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal
glory.
Paul was encouraged
because he knew that the Word of God cannot be bound, and it is this
same Word of God that will judge all those who have, by their own
choice, ended up in Hell.
We to should be able
to endure all things because we have a much better life ahead of us.
All those who have
elected to believe the truth of the Scriptures can be encourage
knowing that salvation can come only by the truth of God and it is
this message that we have been assigned to take to the world.
Psa_66:16 Come and
hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for
my soul.
We must be willing
to pay any price for the "Gospel" go forward and lost souls
be saved, no matter who they are!
Luk 14:33 So
likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath,
he cannot be my disciple.
The Word of God
makes a promise of eternal glory, but the Word of God also makes a
promise of eternal judgment!
Paul had only one
reason and it was to give his life's work for the church of the
Living God. The same church he at one time had fought so hard to
destroy
It should be the
same for each of us.
Paul does not say
any other Christian should suffer as he did, in fact there will not
be one Christian who will suffer more than Paul suffered to get the
Gospel out to this world.
*****2Ti 2:11 It is
a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live
with him:
2Ti 2:12 If we
suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will
deny us:
2Ti 2:13 If we
believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
In another passage
we are told to mortify our flesh. We must treat our flesh as being
already dead and live through our soul, already redeemed by the Lord
Jesus Christ and made alive through the Holy Spirit!
In other words, we
must be dead to sin and ready to die for the Lord Jesus Christ!
Rom 6:6 Knowing
this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin
might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom 6:7
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we
be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing
that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no
more dominion over him.
Death has no
dominion over the child of God! When our flesh comes to that
appointed death, we will be more alive than we can even comprehend!
If we deny the Lord
Jesus Christ just to escape suffering for Him, when we die we will be
more dead in torment than we could ever comprehend!
We should remember
what Paul had just written, we must endure some the suffering that
Jesus suffered!
For the biggest part
most of us will suffer mentally!
We must not ever
deny the Lord and choose that murderer, Satan! This is what the Jews
did when they chose Barabbas.
Act 3:14 But ye
denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be
granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed
the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we
are witnesses.
When we choose the
Lord Jesus we have chosen life!
When we suffer with
Him we will also reign with Him!
Even though the most
of this world denies the Lord Jesus Christ it does not make them
right, it only makes them to be fools.
Though they believe
not, nothing can hinder God from keeping the promises that He has
made.
It is impossible for
the Word of God to fail!
Num 23:19 God is
not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should
repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and
shall he not make it good?
When we cannot
accept the basics of our Savior, who gave all that He could, then how
do we suppose that God is not God!
God means what He
says (every word) and God says what He means (every word)!
The only sin that
cannot be forgiven is the sin of unbelief!
We live in a nation
that can only blame God when bad things happen, so how can they deny
Him yet blame Him!
How can people deny
the God that they reject? This makes them all to be liars!
God is faithful to
keep His words of salvation and God will just as faithful to keep His
words of damnation! Yes, world there is a Hell!
We need to remember
all these things as we meditate on the truth of God!
*****2Ti 2:14 Of
these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord
that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting
of the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Study to
shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We are never to
debate the Word of God with those who reject the Word of God!
We are to present
the Word and they must make that choice to believe or that choice to
reject which will lead to eternal death!
There are certainly
those who choose to debate, and they have the knowledge to do so but,
I am not sure even this is Biblical.
We must be aware
that those who have rejected the Word of God are waiting on us to
make a mistake with our words, but the Word of God is always perfect
in every situation.
The Lord said
"Preach"! The word "preach" is used 47 times in
the New Testament.
What was the message
of Jesus?
Mat 4:17 From that
time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.
The Kingdom of
Heaven has never been closer than it is today!
This same message is
to be preach today, along with all the Words of God!
It seems that
message of "repent" is also forgotten today!
That one who is
saved cannot continue in sin and please the Lord!
The Christian has
already been approved to one day walk the streets of Gold, but if we
study the Word of God and rightly divide the Word of God, seeing
those God spoke to the Jews from those God spoke to the Christians
and God spoke to those who reject His words, then we can be approved
again by Him.
The Word of God has
already been approved in Heaven and when we rightly divide the Word
of God, then those words will also be approved in Heaven.
We can be sure the
Holy Ghost is involved in this process according to the words we use!
God's Word is already perfect!
We must never allow
anyone to twist the Word of God into to something will make that babe
in Christ stumble!
We must understand
that we are fools if we do not seek the approval of God.
To avoid being a
fool then we must be like that worker who is working for the Lord who
works just as hard studying the Word of God!
We can tell from
this one passage that God will not be pleased with those who twist
the Word of God into a lie!
Jer 15:16 Thy words
were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and
rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of
hosts.
We must understand
that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Living Bread of Life and like
Jeremiah we need to eat the Word of God!
Joh_6:48 I am that
bread of life.
Joh_6:51 I am the
living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my
flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Joh 1:14 And the
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and
truth.
This is not being a
cannibal, this is hard study, and much meditation, and much prayer
until the Holy Ghost will teach us what these things mean.
We can study and
read and meditate but if we do not apply these things to our lives,
we have wasted our time and God's time!
We must also stay
away from those who would deny the Lord!
*****2Ti 2:16 But
shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more
ungodliness.
2Ti 2:17 And their
word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
2Ti 2:18 Who
concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past
already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Those that are
profane, are all ungodly people!
Babblings is just
foolish talk and those who twist the Word of God into a lie are
certainly profane babblers who speak nothingness!
In the day of Paul
many of these were Jews but they were just as mixed up and profane
about their own beliefs!
These things are
just as important today because we are living in the completition of
the remaining prophesies!
Satan is busier now
than he ever has been, knowing his time grows shorter.
Hymenaeus and
Philetus were just two of those who twisted the Word of God into an
early form of Gnosticism.
These two made the
resurrection to be spiritual rather than physical as God says it will
be!
These two like Judas
and a few others have their name written the Word of God as sinners
who rejected the truth of the Scriptures!
The resurrection of
Jesus Has taken place but the rapture and resurrection of all those
sleeping in Jesus, has not taken place but may be next on God's
agenda.
We would be wise to
escape when we hear those disputing of God's Word, just to be near
them can affect out testimony for the Lord.
Ungodly talk is like
a cancer that spreads and then kills, having no shame in speaking
against a Holy God!
The thing we need to
remember as Christians is that the foundation of God stands sure have
His seal. God has already placed His "seal" upon every true
Christian!
If we study the Word
of God, then we will know when we hear a lie.
If it comes from a
teacher, then we need to educate that teacher.
If it comes from a
Preacher, then we need to avoid his teaching.
Both should be
presented to the Church in hope of repentance.
We must understand
that with the Power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us, we as
Christians are now the guardians of the Word of God!
Another truth is,
God knows all His children which means that God also knows all those
who reject Him!
*****2Ti 2:19
"Nevertheless" the foundation of God standeth sure, having
this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one
that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
The Church that
Christ Jesus built will stand until it is removed by the Lord. No one
can change this fact!
Eph 2:19 Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens
with the saints, and of the household of God;
Eph 2:20 And are
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom
all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in
the Lord:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye
also are builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit.
The world just does
not understand that all those ornate buildings are just that,
buildings where the true church, each individual child of God gather
together to worship our Savior.
All God's children
proudly wear the seal of the Holy Spirit and He knows us because He
lives within us!
To all those that
would destroy the House of God, God does not know them at all, but
God still loves them!
Mat 7:22 Many will
say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity.
There are no false
confessions, there are no hypocrites, there is no one who can fool
God! God knows all His children on a personal basis and calls out
their name regularly!
It is only those who
depart from iniquity that have called out to the Lord.
2Co 6:16 And what
agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of
the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in
them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will
be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith
the Lord Almighty.
All those who
understand these things and obey are the true children of God and a
Temple where He dwells!
*****2Ti 2:20 But
in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to
dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man
therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour,
sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every
good work.
For all those who
refer to a building, God knows there will always be some vessels of
wood and earth, and some to dishonor!
God knows all those
that honor Him, but He also knows all those who dishonor Him.
1Co 8:3 But if any
man love God, the same is known of him.
To the world that
vessel of gold and that vessel of wood may look the same but that one
of wood will be friendlier to the world.
It is the same with
that vessel of silver and that made of the earth. They may resemble
each other but that made of earth will be most friendly to those of
the world.
The truth is God
will separate the vessels that are true from those who are false on
the day God calls out His church.
Mat 13:24 Another
parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is
likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Mat_13:25 But while
men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went
his way.
Mat_13:30 Let both
grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will
say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them
in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
In most cases that
vessel of honor will know that vessel of dishonor and he will avoid
partaking of his sin and have no fellowship with him!
It is the intent of
those vessels of dishonor to ruin the testimony of those vessels of
honor!
If we are observant
we can spot those that are set apart by God the Father but remember
the parable, if we try to remove these vessels ourselves then it
could cause problems in the church but if they stay, they will hear
the truth of God and may still become a vessel of honor before the
Lord returns when He will remove all those vessels of dishonor!
In most cases we
will be able to tell them by their works!
We must not forget
Timothy was in Ephesus to root out all those who taught a false
gospel!
It is the same for
everybody of believers, Satan will sneak in and plant some tares,
vessels of dishonor!
It is all those who
are righteous (doing things the right way) by the Word of God who we
are to follow!
*****2Ti 2:22 Flee
also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace,
with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2Ti 2:23 But
foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender
strifes.
If we survived our
days as teenagers, we know exactly what the Lord is saying when He
says flee youthful lust!
This is what our
youth must do today!
This is what all
those who are addicted to anything must do today. They must flee
youthful lust!
Peter said it is
lust that will war with the soul!
1Pe 2:11 Dearly
beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
1Pe 2:12 Having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak
against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Timothy was no
longer a teenager, but he was still a young man who had followed the
Lord all through his teenage days. This is one of the greatest
problems our young people face today.
They are raised in
the church or they have come to know the Lord while in the church and
once they must go out into the world, the world will try its best to
alter the lifestyle of these young people if they do not remain true
to God.
That word lust means
"passionate desires".
It is normal for us
to have these desires as men and women, Gods made us this way. It is
when we use these things to hurt or damage others they become sin.
We must put these
things aside until either commit to God and then to a marriage or we
commit to God and remain single and sin free by fleeing from these
youthful lusts.
Know that these
youthful lusts can also mean peer pressure and the desire to be
recognized and accepted by those of your own age. We as Christians
must flee from all such desires that lead to sin!
There are many other
lust or cravings that reach out to our young people and we must teach
them to be on guard and to flee from all these things.
That phrase "say
no to" originated in the Word of God and it is the Lord our God
who said it first!
Remember there are
many whose lust and cravings become addictions which are truly
harmful and lead to a living death!
It is in the church
where these who become addicted to their youthful lust can find
righteousness, faith, charity, peace with all them that call upon the
Lord with a pure heart.
*****2Ti 2:23 But
foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender
strifes.
2Ti 2:24 And the
servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt
to teach, patient,
2Ti 2:25 In
meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the
truth;
2Ti 2:26 And that
they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are
taken captive by him at his will.
We must always
remember that a false teacher will intentionally bring forth foolish
and unlearned questions to cause discussion rather than get trapped
in their ignorance of the Scriptures.
They will do the
very best they can to divide the church.
God's answer to
these things is to remain that good servant of the Lord and refuse to
get caught up in strife but be gentle, apt to teach, patient, in
meekness opposing those who oppose themselves.
We can believe that
Timothy had much more knowledge in the Scriptures than the average
preacher of that day and it would only harm his message to argue with
those false teachers who would use these things against him.
What is a fact of
our school systems of today there is so much useless learning, that
is pointless, "stupid as well as foolish" that in the end
makes those students ignorant rather than educated especially in the
schools of so-called higher learning.
It is the same in
the church when a false teacher gives his message. It makes those
sitting in the pews more confused than they were to begin with which
is the goal of Satan!
We are never to
argue with those who confuse the Word of God!
We must allow the
truth of the Word of God to do what God intends for it to do!
If those who are
confused would just listen to what God has to say, it could change
their life forever.
Mic 7:19 He will
turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our
iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the
sea.
In fact, all God
wants us all to do is to tell His story to all that are in the world,
so they too would have a chance to say yes or no!
The next thing is
for those who believe to become disciples who go out to tell the
truth about Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer!
Most of those who
are lost do not even realize that they are caught up in a trap of
Satan, the Devil.
Satan never does
things in his own name because he would be rejected!
Satan can even lay a
trap in the Scriptures which is why the Lord says to rightly divide
all the Scriptures.
Satan knows the
weakness of every Christian, because he does not have to worry about
those who follow him until they are approached by one of God's
children!
Timothy must clearly
understand all these things, just as we are, or the Holy Spirit would
not have mentioned these things to us!
Amen
Let's Pray
