November 6 –Made Complete

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

 

After Jesus ascended to Heaven the Holy Spirit was sent by The Father to abide in the lives of every person who by faith believed in Jesus, who He is and what His word was.  In John 14:26 Jesus promised that the “Helper (Holy Spirit) would teach you…and bring to your remembrance all that I have said.” God has given us His Word, and we recognize its value..  In the second letter the  Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, he underscored this fact.  God’s purpose in inspiring the writers of our Bible was to give us His will in His word. By preserving these writings so that we have them available to us today, many centuries later God has helped His people to understand His words so that we may know His plan and purpose for our lives.  And what has been God's purpose?  It has been to equip each of us to carry on His work of reaching others with His message and offer of salvation. So, as we read God's Word, as we study the Bible, as we listen to others teach us from it, God is making us complete by equipping for every good work.

 

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October 7 – Being Approved

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)

Our promise today is that by studying, reading and learning what God’s word teaches, our shame is removed. Most people in the world think their life after death would be better with God. They also think the way to qualify for that is by being “good enough,” coupled with being “not that bad.” Scripture clearly teaches we are naturally kept out of God’s presence because the sin nature we are born with. Our good deeds never secure a spot in God’s Kingdom. The Bible calls that “heaven.” It is a real place. Another real place is “hell” where those who reject God’s will spend eternity. The only way to eternal life in heaven is by believing in Jesus and receiving His gift of salvation. This is done by grace through faith in God; a faith gifted to us by God so that we can believe and receive what we don’t deserve by deeds. All who receive Jesus are granted the right to become children of God. Each person born with a sin nature rejects God naturally. To never believe and to always reject God’s offer of eternal life eventually results in being ashamed.

 

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September 3 – Grace Given Before Time Began

 “...who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” – 2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)

The very first words in the Bible are; “In the beginning God created…” An important truth from these words is that there was ‘a beginning’ of time. Before God created all the rest he created time. It was before the ages began. “Time, ‘like an ever-rolling stream,’ flows on and on and on. But before it even began we were already included in the gracious purpose of God.”* And God purposed to give us grace ‘before times of the ages’ as the words are literally translated. That grace of God was hidden, and it is part of the “mystery” given to the Apostle Paul for him to reveal to the world.  In Colossians 1:26 Paul also wrote, “the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations,” Grace from God for us, hidden from before the foundation of the world was in the Old Testament only dimly discerned by those who believed. But it in the New Testament it “has now been revealed or manifested.” When we think of grace, we think of Jesus our Savior, anointed by God  for the purpose of saving his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

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* William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, New Testament Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 4:232–233.

September 2 – Here Are Six But There Are More

 “[God] saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” -  2 Timothy 1:9 -  (ESV)

Six Promises for those saved and In Christ Jesus. Pause for a moment and think how incredible it is to be united to Christ. Bound to Christ. If you are “in Christ” listen to what it means for you:

1. In Christ Jesus you were given grace before the world was created. (2 Timothy 1:9)
2. In Christ Jesus you were chosen by God before creation. (Ephesians 1:4)
3. In Christ Jesus you are loved by God with an inseparable love. (Romans 8:38–39)
4. In Christ Jesus you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins. (Ephesians 1:7)
5. In Christ Jesus you are justified before God and the righteousness of God in Christ is imputed to you. (2 Corinthians 5:21) 
6. In Christ Jesus you have become a new creation and a son of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

The unbeliever is not in Christ Jesus but an enemy of God’s truth as revealed in the Bible. Declaring that one believes in Jesus is real does not save. True belief is saving faith, a gift of God. In the next few days we will look a little closer at each of these six promises in God’s Word. 

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May 20 – Being Known as His

“Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” 2 Timothy 2:17-19 (NASB)

Don't be like Hymenaeus and Philetus, who Paul called out. Our passage today is from three verses of 2 Timothy chapter 2 bringing us a truth and promise from God.  Every person putting his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Savior has this assurance⸺that God knows about it. He is aware of our faith. God welcomes each of us into His family. He knows us personally and we can know that we belong to him because of that knowledge.  Hymenaeus, named in 1 Timothy 1:20 and again here had first with Alexander and then with Philetus later spread false teaching about the resurrection and created a crisis among believers in Ephesus. Paul calls them out and reassures Timothy, and us, that God is intimately acquainted with each of us. That is what our verse means when it says, “The Lord knows those who are His.”  Our heavenly Father has a personal connection with each of us who by faith believe. This gives us a special assurance, doesn't it? We have a special confidence and encouragement today that God knows each of us and He knows just were we are and what we need. A cause to  rejoice.

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February 9 – Fan the Flame

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

We’re thinking of the campfire or a wood fire burning in a fireplace. These fires provide heat and perhaps light but wood fires dwindle to coals as the wood is burned into ashes. To keep it going we add new wood and then we blow or fan the burning embers into a flame. Paul instruction to Timothy is to do the same to his spiritual gift. It’s God who gives us spiritual gifts to serve Him and others in His name and for His sake. Persecution was increasing in the first century when Paul wrote his last letter to Timothy, shortly before his execution by Nero. There was much then and much today that might cause us to react with a cowardly fear, that springs from timidity. The Spirit of God and the spiritual gifts He has promised and given to us are powerful and can overcome such fears. Exercising our faith through obedience using these gifts result in love and discipline. Self-control is essential and God promises to supply it to all who by faith believe. This is why we need to stoke our God given gifts and keep them alive and burning bright. 

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March 2 – Trust Only One Way

“The [this] saying is trustworthy,
for if we have died with him,
    we will also live with him;
if we endure, 

    we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, 

    he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, 

    he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”
                - 2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV)

We have heard quotations repeated and often we hear “That’s true.” tagged on for emphasis. The Apostle Paul used the ‘trustworthy-sayings’ formula in his letters to individuals to introduce a familiar saying. It was Paul’s way of confirming the truth in a common saying. In our verse today four comparisons or couplets are set forth. The first two are positive; those who have identified with Christ’s death as a sacrifice accomplished for them, are assured that they will enjoy eternal life with Him. “If we endure” is our identification with Christ through until the end. Our present suffering is related to our and glorification later. Then two negative couplets. Those pretending to believe but are found to be faithless deniers of Jesus will indeed be denied by God. There is no way we can by being good enough to save ourselves. We must believe and trust Jesus Christ and what He did and said for us. The players, the deniers, and the faithless can’t affect any change to Christ’s offer of new life. God’s promises remain true. He cannot deny the truth for He is the Truth and the only Way to eternal Life. God: forever faithful to His word.

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November 6 – Departure Time

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV) 

The “Crown of righteousness” can mean either that righteousness itself is the crown or reward, or that this crown is the reward for righteousness. We can read how the Bible speaks of the death of a believer, especially in the New Testament, we notice how the word “departure” is used rather than death. Jesus, Paul, and Peter all spoke of their physical death as a “departure.” Apostle Paul lived for about 60 years. When writing his second letter to Timothy, he knows then, for certain, his death is very near. But it was not the end of living, it was his time of departure from this world to live with God’s in heaven.  Paul was one of untold number of Christians who Emperor Nero’s aggressive persecution killed, blaming them for the burning of Rome – which Nero had done himself. Paul speaks of it in this passage in very positive words. He does not fear his departure and he knows that His Lord has prepared a reward. Paul was not the only one to receive this Crown of Righteousness but all who love Christ’s appearing are promised the same reward on 'that day' which is the day of Christ’s return. 

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September 4 – Suffering Share

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”  2 Timothy 1:8-9 (ESV)

This letter written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy was the last writing we have from Paul.  We can assume many were attempting to shame Timothy for being a follower of Paul the prisoner in Rome.  After all, anyone who ended up in a Roman prison had to be considered a failure was their basis. Paul encourages Timothy when shamed, to not be ashamed but to embrace the opportunity. Instead, he was to consider it a blessing to be part of the suffering that was experienced by all who boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This passage teaches the same means of our calling as Ephesians 1:3-6.  Suffering for the His Name’s sake was part of what is appointed to us, taught and predicted by Jesus Himself.  Suffering for the sake of God and His great name comes to believers in this world.  It is coming to those who so far have known a comfortable and easier life. God chose all who believe before the ages began, according to his great love and by grace, has called us to share in these sufferings. It is promised to all who have believed and received Jesus as Lord and Savior

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August 18 – Wise For Salvation

“… from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 3:15 (ESV)

We are thankful to God for choosing people long ago and inspiring them through the Holy Spirit to write the Bible messages which we need to know in order to become His children and His disciples. God inspired the writers and directed  those who have presented the writings and have passed them on to us.  And the purpose of all this is to make us wise for salvation. The Holy Scriptures which the Apostle Paul writes about in his second letter to Timothy has been given first to reveal that God has prepared and presented and offered a way to Himself – He has revealed what we must know in order to be saved. Paul points out another benefit that Timothy had as he was taught the scriptures from his childhood. That is why we who are children of God give thanks for the Holy Bible because it is how we learn about all that God has done for us. Our promise today is that we can trust the Bible to guide us and teach us first for salvation and then for discipleship as we share what we have been taught.  

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April 23 –Needs More Apparent?

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”  - 2 Timothy 1:7  (NASB)

The Apostle Paul was in his last months or days.  He knew the time was finally coming when God would be calling him home.  His dear friend and disciple Timothy was facing life as a preacher pastor without Paul as his close friend.  Even though Timothy is in Ephesus and Paul is in Rome in chains, his departure will be a blow to Timothy.  So this letter begins with encouragement about the future based on past experience. No matter whatever is ahead for Timothy, Paul wants him to remain unashamed and strong in the faith.  This promise is given to Timothy and to us that God does not give us a timid spirit.  God has given us Himself as the Holy Spirit. So, we have a Spirit of power, love and discipline.  We need that every day but these days our need may be a bit more acute, a bit more apparent.  When in the most difficult of times, God provides us with power, with love, with discipline so that our forward movement in Christ will be a testimony to God’s promises.  Let’s live today in the strength, power of God practicing love and discipline in all our choices.  

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January 14 – Seriously, Fear Not

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”  -2 Timothy 1:6  (ESV)

Paul is writing to Timothy, a disciple of his and of Jesus Christ.  This is the last letter Paul wrote from prison before his execution in Rome. Paul’s exhortations to Timothy are for all of us. Knowing that his death in imminent, Paul shares a very keen and precious promise in this verse.  God does not want us to be fearful of whatever might be ahead for us.  That includes what changes in our government as well as personal life.  As we see a steep rise in persecution of Christians where we are as well as around the world, we might react in fear.  We might turn to our government for protection and not find any.  But we are promised that God’s gift to us is not a spirit of fear for it is a spirit of power and love and self-control.  So many who profess Christian faith might seem to be more concerned with what is happening in their country rather than what God has given to us to face whatever comes.  Paul was facing death and he affirmed the power, love and self-control given to him and us from God.  Let's take that example and be prepared if ever we are faced with such a trial.  

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November 6 – Being Made Complete

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

We have a wonderful resource in our Bible which our God has provided for us.  God has given us His Word, and His people have recognized its value from the earliest days.  So, when the Apostle Paul wrote His second letter to Timothy, he stressed this fact in the verse we have today.  God has a purpose in inspiring the writers of Scripture to write what they wrote.  And He has followed through by preserving these writings so that we have them available to us today, many centuries later.  God has helped His people to maintain the scriptures as He intended so that we may know His plan and purpose for our lives.  And what has been God's purpose?  It has been to equip each of us to carry on His work in this world of reaching others with His message and offer of salvation.  So, as we read God's Word, as we study the Bible, as we listen to others teach us from it, God is making us complete by equipping for every good work.

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May 20 – Being Known as His

“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”” 2 Timothy 2:19a (NIV)

The truths that we have in the Bible are expressed in varying ways.  Today's verse brings us a precious truth and promise.  Each and every person who puts his or her faith in Jesus Christ as Savior has this assurance that God knows about it – He is aware of our faith. God welcomes each of us into His family. He knows each of us personally and we can know that we belong to him because of that knowledge.  God is not a distant “man upstairs” but he is intimately acquainted with each of us. That is what our verse means when it says, “The Lord knows those who are His.”  Our heavenly Father has a personal connection with each of us who believe. This gives us a special assurance, doesn't it? We have a special confidence and encouragement today that God knows each of us and He knows just were we are and what we need. Today, let's rejoice in this promise.   

April 28 – A Promise to Keep Promises

“if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”  2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV)

The purpose of this blog is to remind us of the promises that God has given to us. God has promised to keep His promises and to never break them.  The reason we can trust His promises is because by His nature, God cannot break his promises.  The reminder we have in today's verse is of this wonderful nature of our heavenly Father who is perfect in every way.  We are not perfect, and we stumble on our walk with Jesus. We are known to fail to keep a promise and to be faithless, but God is always faithful. That is the way He is and if He did not keep his world, He would not be God. Many religions worship false gods who cannot keep their word because they do not exist. Our God is the only true God whose nature is such that he will always be true to His Word and even when we are faithless, He remains faithful to what He has promised us. That is a promise.

August 23 – Even Before the Beginning

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” 2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)

One of the reasons we prepare these short messages each day is to remind ourselves each day that we have a wonderful and awesome God who has a purpose for each of us. Our verse today tells us the amazing truth that God started planning for us a very long time ago – even before the beginning of time as we know it.  And when was that? Well, God's plans for us began before he even made the world, before he started counting days as we can read about in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible.  So, long before you and I were born God knew we would be a part of his creation and that we would need His grace and His love. We should never forget that and always remember He is still working out His plans for one of us.  Now, that is a very impressive truth and promise.

August 18 – That We May Know

“... from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15 (NIV)

It is a good practice to be thanking God for choosing people long ago to write the Bible messages which we need to know in order to become His children and His disciples. God inspired the writers and he also inspired those who have presented the writings and have passed them on to us.  And the purpose of all this is to make us wise for salvation. The Holy Scriptures which the Apostle Paul writes about in his second letter to Timothy has been given first to reveal that God has prepared and presented and offered a way to Himself – He has revealed what we must know in order to be saved. That is why we who are children of God give thanks for the Holy Bible because it is how we learn about all that God has done for us. Our promise today is that we can trust the Bible to guide us and teach us first for salvation and then for discipleship as we share what we have been taught.  

June 3 – Convinced He is Able

“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12  (NIV)

We remember that the Apostle Paul had a special encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. This happened when he was still an enemy of Jesus and was hunting those who believed in and followed Him. But on that day he was changed and he began believing in Jesus and who He was.  When he wrote this letter to Timothy he was near the end of his life.  Paul said, “I know whom I have believed” for he had grown in his knowledge of Jesus and he said he was convinced that Jesus was able to bring him to a glorious future – he believed the promise God had given to him.  As we walk with our Lord Jesus  we can come to know Him better each day. We can be convinced that He is able to bring us through whatever we face just as Paul was convinced. Let's remember today and believe today and be convinced today that He is able.

March 2 - At Your Side

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”  2 Timothy 4:17 (NIV)

This verse is the testimony of the apostle Paul and we are thinking especially of the first part of this verse. Paul is telling how the Lord helped him in a court appearance. When Paul was summoned to testify in court no other person was there to help him but he did not stand alone. He said that the Lord stood at his side and gave him strength. What a wonderful experience that was for Paul. He knew that he did not stand alone and he was conscious that the Lord stood right there at his side. This can be our experience too. We can be assured that whatever we face, the Lord is with us. Let us remember God’s promise to be with us right when we need Him. He will be with you as He was with Paul. Remember what Paul said, “…the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength...” He will give you strength also. 

April 17

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” 2 Timothy 4:17 (NIV)

Paul was in prison in Rome and he is describing how some of his friends deserted him when he was being tried in court. What a wonderful reminder of the faithfulness of our God. Paul was aware that when he stood before the judge in the Roman court, the Lord was right there. Paul describes being delivered out of the mouth of the lion, that is, of the Roman Emperor Nero, or some of his judges. He sensed that God was at his side. He is the same God that we serve today. Even if friends forget us our Lord never does. He knows how we need His support when the difficulties build up. He is there. He will stand by our side.