Old Jerry

It was important to Paul for Timothy to come before winter because Paul needed his cloak and travel would be more difficult in the winter. If Timothy delayed then he probably wouldn’t be able to get there at all because the shipping lanes would be closed for the winter. I think Timothy did drop everything and came to Paul’s side. Paul was his mentor and respected him very much. I think I would come at once because of love for him.

It is hard when trusted friends desert us because they know all about us and we know all about them. We have probably told them things that we had not told any body else. It is difficult when they move away or die because the two of you are now family. It would be a lonely world if we didn’t trust anybody. Who can we vent frustration on and still keep it a secret. Besides Luke the Lord was with Paul.

The “crown of righteousness” represents us followers of Jesus and sticking with it in thick in thin. This crown is given to those who have been waiting for it. The award is based on Jesus forgiving our sins.

To “fight the good fight” means that he has faithfully taught the gospel and he didn’t let the false teacher take over. He was punished for what he taught but he did not waver from his teaching. It takes trusting in God to “finish the race” that God has designed for me.

Paul knew that if Timothy started to listen to the false teachers that he might be swayed to their teaching. So, he needed to attend to the duties of ministering. Timothy is to teach the Word and the word only. He is also to live by the Word. Verse 5 is telling to keep on track and not to wonder from it.

Paul had to resort to the command in verses 1-2 because he wanted Timothy to know that he isn’t teaching the world view he is teaching about Jesus who will be judging the living and the dead. That put a great importance on what he is teaching. The Christians were being beat and killed for their religion so it wasn’t always convenient to teach all the time. So, he was telling Timothy that things were going to get rough.

The way that Scripture equips a Christian for ministry is that it teaches us who God is and what He is like. Therefore, we are able to teach others about God. The Scripture functions in teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

Inspiration of Scripture means that it wasn’t a human that just decided to write down what he was thinking. It was at God’s direction to them to write the words. The doctrine of inspiration of Scripture is important because we know that it was God that had the words written and we can be sure that they are true words. And besides our eternal life depends on the words of the bible. Thanks to these words we have something to look forward to.

If you don’t accept the inevitability of persecution, it will make you weak. You will not be able to spread the word about Jesus Christ. To “take up his cross daily” means that when ever you are persecuted you will be will to take it and speak up. I think that Jesus talking about persecution and following Him.

It is easy to become a hypocrite because we can see others actions but we can’t see ours. We might be doing the same thing that they are, but we don’t see it. We have got to believe what the Bible is telling us. These are God’s words and they are true.

The characteristics that enable a Christian teacher to correct opponents is to be kind, gentle, clear headed and respectful. If you are able to keep your cool then maybe they will listen to you. If you don’t have one of these attributes then they will stop listening to you and become very argumentative.

I don’t have good plates and silverware but my kids do and they put it out when there is a special day like Christmas. I use my everyday tableware all the time. I think Paul is telling us that we need to be already to help the Lord when ever he calls on us. We “cleanse ourselves” when we stay connect to the word of God.

The analogy with a skilled workman that forms the basis for Paul’s instruction to Timothy is to work hard, be honest and be faithful. This applies to our teaching of scripture also.

To me the experience of a soldier illustrates this well. You have got to obey the orders in order to accomplish the task at hand. If you don’t you could end up dead. The same is true in life, we need to obey what God is telling us or we could end up as good as dead in hell.

Our churches don’t tend to declare the call to endurance and suffering because it would probably chase people away and it wouldn’t bring in any new people. Timothy probably shied away from it because how do tell people that if they joined, they would have to suffer. If we suffer for the gospel, we will get closer to God.

It is very important for pastors and church leaders to execute a strategy of mentoring teachers and elders in the congregation so that the word would be carried on correctly. I feel that the time spent in teaching future leaders is a better time spent then on administration and programs. All though administration and programs are important, they are easer taught then preaching. Preaching has to be from the heart.

The source of Paul’s fearlessness is the Lord. He is trusting that God will help him to spread the word.

Paul is encouraging Timothy by telling him everlasting life was always there even before Adam and Eve. God knew what He was going to do all the time. Therefore, don’t be afraid of telling others about it. This is an antidote for shame because we know how things are going to work out because we can trust God.

Some examples that I can think of is when we are with some people who doesn’t believe in Jesus and they will ridicule you when you talk about Him. Or you are in a crowd and you don’t want to be pointed out. The antidote for cowardice and shame is the Holy Spirit. We can combat the cowardice and shame we might recognize in ourselves by praying and depending on the Holy Spirit and get out of that situation.

The advice that I would give to a person who has let the use of a spiritual gift or ministry lapse is to have them recall all the things that God has done for them. Remind them that the body of Christ needs their spiritual gift. It can be rekindled by us praying for them and showing that the body really does needs them. The thing that might be involved in reclaiming use of the gift would be bible study and prayer.

It is very important to stress that our salvation has nothing to do with our righteous acts. If it was our righteous acts that saved us, then what use was the cross. Our righteous acts just shows that we love God but has nothing to do with Him saving us because it was grace that we are saved for eternal life. “Good” works can corrupt us by self-serving motives because we will become all puffed up in thinking that we did it on our own. This is what will keep us from our salvation.

We must respond to civil governments because they are the ones that God has put in charge. So, if we want to praise God in relative peace, then we need to respond to the government. An anti-government stance hurts us because we are always talking bad about the government and not talking good thing about Jesus. The same thing is true about backbiting and gossip.

The two purposes of Christ’s redemption are to redeem us from sin and wickedness and to purify a people so they are eager to do good works. We need to be purified because we are born to sin so we can truly do “good” works.

Christ is coming soon and I hope that I am conducting myself in that manner. This hope is “blessed” because we have something to look forward to. This world is not all that there is and I am planning on going to the new earth. Christ is the King and that is what exhibits his glory.

The wrong understanding of God’s grace seems to give us a license to be sloppy in our behavior because we know that God will for give us because Jesus died and was resurrected for our sins. Therefore, we think we can do anything because of his grace. If we are trying to please God, then we will be control ourselves to accomplish this task.