Our Father in heaven, Your name is honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] Let’s take some time and focus on prayer. Look up these verses and glean from them. Prayer! It’s a conversation with God. Do you struggle with praying? Is it intimidating to you to pray to God? Is there a right way to…
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Finishing The Race: Part 3
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. Preach the Word with endurance – to the end of the race. Preach the Word, even when it is unpopular. We need to tell people the truth, even when they don’t like it. We need to be like Jeremiah, who prophesied that the Babylonians were coming to conquer Judah. The Jews called him a liar and threw him in the dungeon. He stood firm for the…
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Finishing The Race: Part 2
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4: 1-2 Are you willing to finish the race well? Finishing the race well, We, as God’s servants, must emphasize the Word. Paul commands Timothy to Preach the Word. This powerful statement has echoed through the centuries and is one that should not be taken lightly. Preach the Word, no…
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Finishing The Race: Part 1
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it” 2 Timothy 3:14 In Paul’s day, people like to watch athletes run races. Athletes would train for nine months. Thousands of people would watch the runners. Paul compares our life o earth to a race. The prize at the end of the long race is the race. We don’t have to be the fastest, the quickest, or the first to complete the race. We must please God and remain faithful to the end of the race. If we finish…
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To Be A Vessel: Part 2
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2 19 Some false teachers today claim that the grace of God covers those who continue to practice sin day after day. Paul makes it clear, “everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness” 2 Timothy 2:19. To be a vessel of honor, we must turn away from wickedness and cleanse ourselves from choosing dishonorable, sinful purposes. Read 2 Timothy 2:19-22. Grace does not hide the sin we practice. Grace teaches us to say “NO” to sin and “yes” to…
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Choosing To Be A Vessel: Part 1
In a large house, there are articles of gold and silver and wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, applicable to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 2 Timothy 2:20-21 Read 2 Timothy 2: 14-3:9. In Timothy’s time, what were examples of vessels of honor and dishonor? Whom did these vessels represent? The problems the false teachers are causing in the house churches of Ephesus. Paul sees a contrast between a godly leader in Timothy and the ungodly leaders. …
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Reflection Day
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 Today is Reflection Day! I love reflection day. It’s a time for me to go back and reflect on what God has spoken to me. It gives me time to pray and seek God about what he wants to change in my life. It gives me time to make a game plan of putting action to what God is telling me and asking of me. Reflection Day gives me a slower pace to grasp what God is telling me. It gives me more time to listen…
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God Is Faithful
Here is a trustworthy saying: if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself (2 Timothy 2:11-13 Paul gives us a part of a poem or ancient hymn. These verses encourage endurance, warn against apostasy, and close on the high point of God’s faithfulness. God is faithful to fulfill His promises and His warnings. God’s faithfulness is a comfort to those who remain loyal. God’s faithfulness is a warning to those who…
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Prayer Time
Our Father in heaven, Your name is honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] Let’s take some time and focus on prayer. Look up these verses and glean from them. Prayer! It’s a conversation with God. Do you struggle with praying? Is it intimidating to you to pray to God? Is there a right way to…
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Encouragement
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. 2 Timothy 2:8-9 What are the illustrations Paul uses in verses 3-10? Soldier. Paul often used illustrations about warfare and soldiers. Soldiers must endure hardship, suffering, and even death. They must remain loyal to the officer who commands them. Timothy must be willing to suffer. He must not look back but stay committed to Jesus, his Divine Commander. He must avoid defecting and looking for an easier path. Athlete. Athletes of Paul’s day endured strict discipline…