As we continued our Wednesday night Bible study through 2 Timothy we concluded the portion in which Paul challenges Timothy personally to where Paul challenges Timothy to challenge the congregation.
We moved from the thoughts of 2 Timothy 2:10-13 to 14-21.
If we die with Him, we live with Him; if we endure, we will reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He will deny us and if we are faithless...He Remains Faithful.
I though about these scriptures for some time. Read it slowly and think about the promises and the faithfulness of God. Every one of these is a promise whether we want to accept it or not. It is wonderful to think of how if we die with Him we live with Him or if we endure we will reign but when it comes to denying him, He Will Deny Us. That is an eye-opening thought and truth. How often do we deny Christ not just as Lord and Savior but we deny Him the glory and honor because we do not take the opportunities to share, serve and go as he calls us to. Then, if we are faithless (not believing in Him, in his accomplished work in and through the cross, in Him as Sovereign and not trusting Him in all things) He Remains Faithful. I am reassured of this when I read Hebrews 6:16-19. God is faithful, so faithful that He cannot deny himself.
Paul then challenges Timothy to challenge the church.
Just like then we still have issues of people starting quarrels about words. Paul tells Timothy that all it does is start trouble, especially in the church. So Paul tells Timothy to tell the faithful men, whom he entrusted with Paul's teaching in the first chapter, to be diligent and study so he and the men may show themselves approved before the Lord.
When I am bring introduced to someone new or someone who is an important person, there are expectations of the one bring presented. In most situations one would shower, shave, put on some nice clothes or buy new ones, clean up the car (if riding in it), comb your hair or get a haircut, brush your teeth (which should be normal) and be on time. When we are presented before someone we want to give a very good first impression but the first impression should be who we are, not just a one-time polished up version. God desires us to be diligent (careful and industrious, prompt, earnest and making the effort) so we can come before Him unashamedly. We need to be pure in heart so we can come unashamedly and come accurately handling the word of truth. That means we don't take one verse and manipulate it to say what we want it to say. We must read and teach from context not from one verse. One verse teaching can become dangerous.
Paul continues with the challenge against empty talk. Paul says it will lead to further ungodliness. The phrasing here brings to my mind that there are times when we think things but do not say or act upon them. We may be thinking ungodly things but when we speaking on them it causes further ungodliness and affects more than just us and our relationship with God it affects others and their walk with God.
I thought the reference to that ungodly talk spreading like gangrene a very potent and accurate description of useless and empty chatter. Gangrene is the decay of body tissue due to a lack of blood supply. When someone is filling the church with something of than the lifeblood and truth of Jesus Christ it begins the "spiritual" formation of gangrene. Gangrene spreads, causes discoloration, gives a foul smell and causes a loss of feeling in the area. How true it is when this invades the body of Christ. False teaching spreads, it causes off-color remarks, the people are not longer a sweet savor in the nostril of the Lord and the people become apathetic or divisive.
So how do you treat gangrene? You amputate the body part, find and remove the dead tissue or improve the blood supply to the area among other things.
So, take this with you today. Evaluate teaching and compare it with God's word. Will people occasionally say the wrong things, yeah and it may be unintentional but we must encourage them and love them. Later on Paul tells us to gently correct those in opposition. Let's be gentle, loving, patient and kind.
To God be the Glory,
Blake Prater
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Selfishness or Selflessness
On Wednesday nights, with my young men, we have been studying 2 Timothy. We are brought to a place where Paul is expecting death and writing back to encourage Timothy to retain to sound teaching and defend the gospel.
How often do we think of others when we ourselves are struggling?
Would we take the time to hand-write a letter of encouragement to a brother that is being overwhelmed by a discouraging situation or person?
I think, if we are honest, we would not do those things because we are selfish people. We are a people, most of the time, that dominate their own minds with no intention of allowing anything to alter our personal desires. In most cases they are immediate gratification desires that work to please no one other than ourselves. We may tag Jesus on there to make ourselves feel good about the decision to which we took no time to pray or meditate over. I think this first chapter of 2 Timothy is a call to the people of God to quit looking at our own situation for a time and look at others and consider them. Just like Hebrews 10:23-25 states, "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking the gathering together as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another all the more as we see the Day approaching. Philippians 2:4 also states, "Let each of you not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Paul writes to Timothy interested in him and in his ministry to the people in Ephesus.
How may times are we truly interested in other people's ministries?
An when we are, is the interest generated out of good intentions or out of selfishness?
Paul was sincerely and genuinely interested in Timothy's ministry as is revealed by Paul's referring to him as his "beloved son/child."
Paul reminds Timothy of his calling.
Paul commends Timothy's upbringing by his faithful grandmother and mother.
Paul encourages Timothy to use his gift.
Paul then dives off into a deep thought on the importance of not being ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.
Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed by:
1. Sharing in the sufferings
2. Knowing who saves and calls
3. Knowing salvation is not based on works
4. Knowing salvation is by God's purpose and grace
5. Knowing salvation is all through Jesus and his coming
6. Knowing Jesus abolished death, brought life and immortality
Paul then says because of his lack of shame, the manifest presence of God on earth and Jesus' calling on his life he has been appointed as preacher, apostle and teacher.
Paul even notes that this is why he suffers. Think of this, Paul was the man, to the Pharisees, when he was Saul. Saul was zealous to cast out, kill and throw in prison anyone who spoke or taught about Jesus then miraculously Jesus reveals himself to Saul on the road to Damascus and everything changes. Saul becomes Paul and begins sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone.
Saul was the "LeBron James" of Pharisees!
Just think of the response... the Miami Heat! But really, he just totally swapped in a matter of moments, Saul is Paul and is telling about the greatness of Jesus Christ. This is why Paul suffered most definitely.
But Paul says, "I'm not ashamed". Paul says, "I know who I believe in!"
But Paul was also disowned by his own people. Paul says that all in Asia turned away from him as did two guys whose momma gave them terrible names, "Phygelus and Hermogenes." Paul was letting Timothy know, "Hey man, not everybody is going to understand what you are doing. Many may, in the beginning but when its not their way you will be able to see it."
Paul also encourages Timothy in that of the life of Onesiphorus. Paul says that "On" is a great man to be commended for his faithfulness, his eagerness, his helpfulness and his friendship.
To close, I think we all need to find that someone or be that someone who mentors in the discipleship of Christ. Paul took Timothy a young man whose Dad is understood as a non-believing Greek, and loved him, encouraged him, wrote to him and discipled him. Today, we too can be a Paul to a Timothy. Let's do it.
Blake Prater
How often do we think of others when we ourselves are struggling?
Would we take the time to hand-write a letter of encouragement to a brother that is being overwhelmed by a discouraging situation or person?
I think, if we are honest, we would not do those things because we are selfish people. We are a people, most of the time, that dominate their own minds with no intention of allowing anything to alter our personal desires. In most cases they are immediate gratification desires that work to please no one other than ourselves. We may tag Jesus on there to make ourselves feel good about the decision to which we took no time to pray or meditate over. I think this first chapter of 2 Timothy is a call to the people of God to quit looking at our own situation for a time and look at others and consider them. Just like Hebrews 10:23-25 states, "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking the gathering together as some are in the habit of doing but encouraging one another all the more as we see the Day approaching. Philippians 2:4 also states, "Let each of you not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Paul writes to Timothy interested in him and in his ministry to the people in Ephesus.
How may times are we truly interested in other people's ministries?
An when we are, is the interest generated out of good intentions or out of selfishness?
Paul was sincerely and genuinely interested in Timothy's ministry as is revealed by Paul's referring to him as his "beloved son/child."
Paul reminds Timothy of his calling.
Paul commends Timothy's upbringing by his faithful grandmother and mother.
Paul encourages Timothy to use his gift.
Paul then dives off into a deep thought on the importance of not being ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.
Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed by:
1. Sharing in the sufferings
2. Knowing who saves and calls
3. Knowing salvation is not based on works
4. Knowing salvation is by God's purpose and grace
5. Knowing salvation is all through Jesus and his coming
6. Knowing Jesus abolished death, brought life and immortality
Paul then says because of his lack of shame, the manifest presence of God on earth and Jesus' calling on his life he has been appointed as preacher, apostle and teacher.
Paul even notes that this is why he suffers. Think of this, Paul was the man, to the Pharisees, when he was Saul. Saul was zealous to cast out, kill and throw in prison anyone who spoke or taught about Jesus then miraculously Jesus reveals himself to Saul on the road to Damascus and everything changes. Saul becomes Paul and begins sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone.
Saul was the "LeBron James" of Pharisees!
Just think of the response... the Miami Heat! But really, he just totally swapped in a matter of moments, Saul is Paul and is telling about the greatness of Jesus Christ. This is why Paul suffered most definitely.
But Paul says, "I'm not ashamed". Paul says, "I know who I believe in!"
But Paul was also disowned by his own people. Paul says that all in Asia turned away from him as did two guys whose momma gave them terrible names, "Phygelus and Hermogenes." Paul was letting Timothy know, "Hey man, not everybody is going to understand what you are doing. Many may, in the beginning but when its not their way you will be able to see it."
Paul also encourages Timothy in that of the life of Onesiphorus. Paul says that "On" is a great man to be commended for his faithfulness, his eagerness, his helpfulness and his friendship.
To close, I think we all need to find that someone or be that someone who mentors in the discipleship of Christ. Paul took Timothy a young man whose Dad is understood as a non-believing Greek, and loved him, encouraged him, wrote to him and discipled him. Today, we too can be a Paul to a Timothy. Let's do it.
Blake Prater
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