Book of 2 Timothy

Precious Rewards in Perilous Times

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

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 contains the last written words of the Apostle Paul.

It was written from Rome as Paul was probably 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 and evil, because this 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 these 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 and this too matches the Scriptures.

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 a husband must be blameless and have only one wife and may even mean one wife at a time, but this one passage eliminates the woman who could never be the husband of one wife.

Note: 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 and not any others.

How many false men behind the pulpits of America and even this world have already rejected the Word of God and preach 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 our 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, he did not have the right intentions. As God will always do, 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 (be 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 same 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 last 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 into the Church!

The human being is still a basically sinful creature, since the time of Adam and we will use every 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 more suited to their desires and their fancies!

It is just a fact and even more so, when we only receive partial truths of the Word of God and it is not drilled into our 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 each individual, 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.

Even today it is a struggle to get the Word of God into these countries so the Holy Spirit can do His work.

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

Only one Church the Church of Philadelphia is shown to 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 and more missionaries went out into the world from here!

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 at all.

Our example comes from this passage in the Book of the Beginnings (Genesis)

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 because 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 do certainly 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 or they never were!

A true minister of God will suffer more hardships than most because they have a target on their back for all 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 but 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 also includes 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 will 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?

We should ask ourselves these questions.

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 do?

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. Those who prefer to be politically correct, rather stick to the proven truth!

It should be obvious to anyone 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 but 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.

Christians throughout the Roman Empire were being persecuted relentlessly.

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 jeopardize thier own lives to 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 own 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 went to Troas, it was a 600-mile journey to Rome in a time when walking and by ship were the only means transportation.

No doubt that some books were at that time 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 might not out last paper but they were certainly 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 we must just accept what Paul is saying. We can also understand that Timothy 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, now 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 now 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 all those 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 God would allow to take on the role as Pastor, it would have been Priscilla, but she knew the order of things and remained with her husband Aquila and they both helped Paul and other Christians 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 also with Paul in Jerusalem. He was that same Gentile Paul was accused of taking into the Temple, which was a lie but if true it 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 Christian who had helped Paul while he was in that Roman dungeon.

Pudens was a friend of Timothy 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, the Holy Spirit, you cannot be in this wonderful eternal 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 had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior we all should!

Amen!

Let’s Pray!

Perilous Times, Scoffers, The Falling Away

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

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 real 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.

Oh, So Precious Promises

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

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

Precious Memories in Perilous Times

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Precious Memories

Book of 2 Timothy Chapter 1

As we begin the 2 Book to Timothy, we should understand that several years had passed since Paul had written the first Book to Timothy. Paul had first written to Timothy while he was in Laodicea.

At the time Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy, Paul was imprisoned in Rome and he was sentenced to death. At this time the death penalty came by beheading and Paul would soon face this judgment with a smile because he knew he was going home to be with the Lord.

This time Paul was charged for inciting an insurrection against the Roman government. This will probably be the charge that will be used against Christian preachers if the Democrats get back in office, here in America.

Paul was writing this letter at a time when Christianity was banned in Rome and all Christians found and sentenced to death.

We should understand when we read the Book of 2 Timothy we are reading the very last words of the Apostle Paul!

We will see that like a prophet. Paul knew that perilous times were coming for all!

*****2Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2Ti 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul knew what would soon take place in his life and he wanted Timothy to understand that he would see him again.

What will we see from the Apostle Paul is that, he would maintain his dignity as a man called of God right to the very end.

This letter to Timothy will seem to be a personal letter between he and Paul, but the Holy Spirit decided that even we of today needed to understand what Paul was saying here.

This letter is another of what we call the pastoral epistles, which are written to answer questions about church organization.

This is another letter from Paul by the Holy Spirit, teaching us how to act in the House of God.

One thing is very clear, only those called of the Lord Jesus Christ will have a ministry in the Christian Church. This is a personal calling from the Lord Jesus Christ to that person who is called.

That one who is called, is called to walk in the will of God, remembering that it is the will of God that every living soul be saved.

1Ti_2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Eternal life comes only by Jesus Christ! Eternal death comes to all that reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

God’s plan is really very simple, have faith in the works Lord Jesus Christ, and be at peace with God forever!

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

When we meet Jesus, we will be meeting the God of all creation!

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”.

Jesus left little doubt that He was the Mesiah, come from God!

In all the Scriptures we do not find one harsh word about Timothy. The fact that Timothy was saved at an early age, that he was able to do so good in the ministry of the Lord. He was saved young and he was led by true Christians all his life.

Timothy shows us the importance of discipling our young people with the truth of the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

*****2Ti 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

What did Paul have? Paul had precious memories of the time he had spent with this young man who was also called of God.

Paul leaves us with the importance of disciple training, covered with much prayer. We must realize that is not about self because the Lord will take care of that.

It is about that prayer life for someone besides ourselves!

We must understand that God has given us this wonderful privilege to pray for those who are disciples!

Prayer is important for everyone but, when we do not zero in on our young people, we are neglecting the future of our church!

We should be thinking of our young disciples in our morning prayers and our nightly prayers and everything in between!

We should remember what Jesus said:

Mat 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, “believing”, ye shall receive.

We need to pray that God would move all the evil things of this world (drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc.) out of the way of our young people.

Maybe we to need to shed a tear for our children!

*****2Ti 1:4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

No doubt that when Timothy heard that Paul had been arrested again and sentenced to death, he shed tears for Paul who had taught him so much and had also been like a father to him.

We also see Paul who is sentenced to death, for preaching the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ, was at peace with his death, and trying to comfort Timothy.

Timothy was strong in his faith and strong in his courage, yet he was still tender. We should remember the qualifications of a Pastor and Timothy met all these qualifications.

Timothy was young man who was not afraid to stand up for the Lord, yet he was still tender and compassionate, and not afraid to show his tender side.

It is this powerful man of God, who had brought joy to the heart of the Apostle Paul!

Not many realize that after the martyr’s death of the Apostle Paul, Timothy remained Ephesus, where sometime later he was also died the martyr’s death, because he preached the whole council of God without being ashamed of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

Timothy was never afraid to call Jesus his Savior! Timothy is a great example for young and old.

*****2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

As Paul was remembering the faith of Timothy, he also remembered the strong faith of his grandmother Lois and also the strong faith of his mother Eunice.

Here we see the fruit that can come from those mothers and grandmothers, who teach their children the truth of the Word of God!

Unfeigned faith is a faith that is not counterfeit. It is not hypocritical. It is real faith. It is sincere faith. It is based upon God’s love for his church!

Lois and Eunice had that faith, that could move those mountains out of the way for this young man named Timothy!

We can see how the Christian family can produce fruit for the work of the Lord!

It seems that in every period of the history of the church, it is the church women who have been more open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and pass these things down to their children!

It is in these last days that Satan will use all his power to destroy the family, in his attempt to destroy the church.

We must remember what Jesus has said.

Luk_18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Once the church is taken out of the world, during the time of the great falling away, there will not be much faith, if any, left upon this world!

It is only those parents who have dedicated their lives to the Lord and walk in Christ Jesus everyday, who have a chance to pass these things on to their children!

Pro_22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

God would not say this if it were no true!

Even as strong as Timothy was, Paul knew that every Pastor needs to be encouraged from time to time.

*****2Ti 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The biggest problem we face in the church today, is that God’s people have let their fire go out!

We will certainly endure abuse, if we claim the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

We already know that this world we live in will never get better than it is right now!

2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Still, like Timothy, it is not time to quit on God!

We need to take a poker and stir up the fire that is within us, so our flame can shine brighter.

There was no indication that Timothy’s fire was getting dim and about to go out!

The Apostle Paul was on death row and he wanted Timothy to know his fight was finished and he would soon be going home.

It would be Timothy who would carry the torch of freedom until he too had fought his good fight.

The truth of these things is, if the Lord has given us a task, then we are to remain in that task until we go home to be with the Lord!

We must not ever forget that He has promised to provide our needs always!

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

If we are afraid, we must know that fear is a word that is not in God’s dictionary!

God gives us the gift of active power, so that we are not afraid to speak up for Jesus!

God gives us the gift of speculative power, so we can think right, and discern right from wrong.

No need to fear what man can do to us, if they kill us we just wake up in Heaven.

No need to fear the trials we face every day, because we are on the winning side, look in the back of the book.

No need to fear what the world says about us, they are on the losing side, also in the back of the book.

God gives us the Spirit power if we just ask, but power is not needed if we are not in the fight!

God gives the Spirit of love for everyone we see, if we just show it. The agape love of God, as our own Father!

God gives the Spirit of a sound mind when we have the mind of Christ!

1Co_2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

With these gifts of the Holy Spirit, plus all the fruit of the Holy Spirit, how could we ever be ashamed of our Savior?

*****2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Makes me want to say, just jump in this battle and stay as close to Jesus Christ you can!

We can actually call this section “Ashamed”!

Why must we never be ashamed of the Lord Jesus? Because it is He who holds the power of the Almighty God for salvation, but only for those who believe!

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

It is a fact that cowardice is a bad thing. To a soldier it could lead to his death or imprisonment.

To the Christian who refuses to get into the war against evil, it could mean an early death because, to be in the will of God is the safest place for any Christian to be.

Thank goodness our God is in the soul saving business!

Being ashamed of our Savior, is showing doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ does not have the power of God.

We are nothing without Jesus Christ!

Why would anyone be ashamed of the “Gospel” when it actually does bring “Good News”!

The Gospel answers every question concerning sin and it is the remedy for fallen man!

We must never be ashamed that our God came to this earth to die!

We must never be ashamed of the blood of Jesus Christ, that washes away all sin.

We must never be ashamed of the virgin birth!

We must never be ashamed of the cross that Jesus bore.

We must never be ashamed period.

We must never be ashamed to take our stand on the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ!

When we cannot take a stand on freedom from the bondage of sin, then nothing else can satisfy that question of just “who am I”.

When we cannot live for Jesus, we will certainly die for Satan!

Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

We must never be ashamed of persecution. Paul said to Timothy, do not be ashamed of my imprisonment”!

It should be an honor, for a Christian to be so much like Jesus that he is imprisoned!

It should be an honor to speak the words of Jesus and be imprisoned for it!

This shows the weakness of those in charge who are so afraid to hear the “Gospel” because one: some know the Word of God is so powerful that they would suffer because of God’s message and two; they are denying the truth to live in their own little false world of misery.

For the Christian, this is the only world that we can suffer in, we will not suffer at all in Heaven.

Though the non-believer they may or may not suffer much in this world, but they will suffer an eternity of unreal suffering in Hell!

God sends His message to this world in order for those bound for Hell can repent and join Him in Heaven.

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.

My question to all those that reject the Word of God, why don’t you leave the Christians alone!

Why be so afraid of God’s Word?

Joh 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

To a world that can believe in aliens and UFOs, why can you not believe in the supernatural, our Heavenly Savior.

I’m not sorry that I am called a Christian, I am sorry that so many just do not believe!

*****2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Some people say we use the word saved to much, but this is the word that works for me!

I am saved. I am preserved, I am protected, I am redeemed, I am delivered from the sin of this world.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

When you speak of salvation, you cannot get around the fact that Jesus Christ is the Author of salvation!

It is a fact that God has a purpose for everything that happens in this world. God does not do bad things, but He allows bad things to happen if they suit His purpose and His plans.

What is God’s Purpose?

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Now we know that everything in this world happens according to this purpose which God is so bold to give to us that we would know, and we can rest on the surety of these words!

If you are not in Jesus Christ, you simply will not be gathered when the Lord comes to take us home. This is known as the rapture of the church. These things are true because God says they are true. Now who do you trust?

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

We have a hope that is much better than a guarantee when we place all our faith in the works of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is absolutely no reason those in the Lord Jesus Christ should be uncertain about their salvation.

There is absolutely no reason that we should fear death as a Christian because we will be going home!

Over and over the Scriptures will lead us to Jesus Christ as our Savior, not just some other man but truly God come down from Heaven to die just so we can be saved.

Yes, I like that word saved!

It was also the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to abolish the death that Satan uses to hold onto his followers.
There are far too many of these followers who have come out of the woodwork to declare they worship Satan to their own demise!

Evil abounds, but God has more “grace” than this world has “evil”!

To be a believer ,we had to be bought from Satan’s slave market but many more are left behind that we need to reach with the “Gospel of our salvation!

1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1Jn 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, “God dwelleth in him, and he in God”.

What is the only method to become a preacher of the Gospel?

*****2Ti 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Paul was appointed to preach by the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no other way to be a true preacher of the “Gospel” do not be fooled by nay sayers.

Paul was appointed Apostle by the Lord Jesus. The only way to be an Apostle was to have been selected by The Lord Jesus Christ seeing Him with his own eyes. For this reason, there can be no more Apostles, Paul was the last.

**Paul was appointed to be the Preacher assigned to the Gentiles.

The God called, Jesus Christ chosen, Holy Ghost filled preacher, is the person who is chosen to go forth and proclaim the message of King Jesus!

The main message will be that Christ has abolished death, followed with that He has brought life and immortality to those who believe upon Him!

What has happened to our preachers of today? They ignored this message or have they forgotten who Jesus is, or are they to ashamed to preach the truth?

**Paul was appointed to be an Apostle because he was sent by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle is to go where ever he is sent with the message that “the King is Coming” and that sooner not later and speak the message he was given by the Lord.

It is the job of the Apostle to make known the business of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The business of our Savior was to do all the work necessary to provide his subjects a means of eternal life with Him and His true angels!

**Paul was appointed to be a teacher.

It is the job of the teacher to teach the curriculum that they have been assigned without changing it in any way. The Teacher will teach the whole council of God with diligence and perseverance!

Paul understood the hazards of what he had to do.

*****2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

The biggest problem with the Christian of today they make God out to be powerless and not able to fulfill His promises, which is very foolish if we just look around to what God has created for us!

When we have been justified (just as if we had never sinned) how can we think God is not able to fulfill His promises?

God says those He has justified will escape eternal death (the wrath of God) only if they have faith!

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

There is no one (no one) who could have given us these majestic heavens but The Lord God!

It is so very foolish to think these things came about by some accident. The only thing accidents have ever brought is destruction!

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

I along with the Apostle Paul are not ashamed of our God of glory!

In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to reveal the power of God!

God is independent of His being, because everything God is (His virtues, His decrees, His works, His causes, all God’s character) depends on Him!

There is absolutely nothing God cannot do but sin. God is who He says He is!

Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

I too am persuaded that God can save my soul and that I will join Him when I die!

We must commit ourselves to the work of the Lord! Why?

1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

We are kept by the power of God!

The Apostle Paul was very sure that judgment was coming but he was also very sure this would take place sometime after he was gone on to Heaven!

Paul was also very sure that when he met Jesus in the clouds, he would have to give an account of himself after his salvation, because all the things Paul had done by persecuting the church before he was saved had been forgiven and God would not remember these things against him.

Even as we see the things of this world get even more evil, we must still hold fast to the Word of God!

*****2Ti 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Because the nature of humanity is corrupt and sinful, we cannot always trust that we can know the truth of their words.

This is not so with God. The Word of God is good for our health here on earth and eternal life when we join the Lord!

The only sound words that we can depend on come from the Lord!

When we start doubting the words that tell us the truth of our Savior, then we are not clinging to the truth!

No false doctrine comes from sound words which are the words that Jesus Christ our only Savior has brought to us from God the Holy Spirit!

When we doubt the Word of God we are calling God a liar.

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.

It is impossible to truly believe upon Jesus Christ if we reject in any way the truth of Scriptures!

Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The Holy Spirit has decided that the words He has given to us. are all we need to trust in the Lord for eternal life.

We have the truth and the results of the truth.

When it comes time to hear the Word of God, we can believe that it is true, beyond all doubt and yes Jonah was swallowed by a real whale!

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Word of God brings so much truth many people spend too much time trying to find fault in the Word of God.

We must hold fast to the form of sound words!

*****2Ti 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

We should understand that trust works both ways with the Lord. We are to trust in His Words and He will trust us to take those words to someone else, so they also can make the choice to accept or reject the truth of God.

The world just does not understand that God wants everyone in this entire world to get an opportunity to compare His truth to what the world has to say about health, love, life and purpose!

We as Christians have the words of life, how can we not share it?

We must also understand that if God has something that affects humans then He will choose another human to do it.

The only humans who can do this thing must be filled with God the Holy Spirit!

In fact, the only good thing upon this world is the Word of God!

What is the greatest truth of the Word of God? It is all about Jesus Christ!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word 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.

There should be no doubt in the Christian, of what these things mean!

It is our Holy God the Father that gives us the Gift of Life and that gift comes by “The Word”, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

So, we can hold fast the gifts God places in our hands.

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

We should pay very close attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying here.

The Apostle Paul was arrested a second time and sentenced to death at the hands of Nero, just for preaching the truth of the Scriptures.

Phygellus and Hermogenes had travel with Paul since Paul was in Asia.

Most all those of Asia abandoned not only Paul but also the Lord and when we say no to God, we are committing sin.

Certainly, Rome was a dangerous place to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but God would take something bad and make good come from it!

Php 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Php 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
Php 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

These things being true Phygellus and Herogenes both from Asia not being arrested with Paul abandoned him and took with them others from Asia.

This was a sad time for Paul, but he never gave up and the Lord never left his side just as He said, He will never forsake us.

Paul was not ashamed of the “Gospel” and this showed in these words given to Him by the Holy Spirit.

Rom_1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

There was one who stood by Paul and he became a very special help to him!

*****2Ti 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
2Ti 1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

Onesiphorus was a Christian from the church of Ephesus where Timothy was being sent.

While Onesiphorus was helping Paul, his family back home was without their father, and Paul prayed for mercy for this household and Paul was making Timothy aware of this family who may also have a need.

Onesiphorus came many times to visit Paul and while he was there he would cheer Paul up, and it also reveals to us the Paul may have spent some time with this family when he was in Ephesus.

This may be all we know of this man Onesiphorus, but it is obvious that he was a Christian who was not ashamed of the “Gospel” and he was a true friend to Paul.

Pro_18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

No doubt that the name of Onesiphorus had been written in the Lambs Book of Life.

*****2Ti 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

Not one of us deserve the mercy of God!

To ask God to show mercy is not so much to ask God to be good as it is to show we have a forgiving God.

I believe when Paul says, “that day” he is referring to the day of the “Rapture” when we will all face the Lord Jesus Christ, at the Bema Seat!

We must never abandon our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter the circumstances, we are all bound together by the blood of Jesus Christ and we must never bring shame to His name!

Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

There will never be a day, while we live upon this earth that we will not need the mercy of God!

Amen