No Matter What

II Timothy 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

This whole letter has been a challenge from Paul to Timothy about the importance of what he had been called to do: combat false teaching and fight for truth.  This "fighting" however is not hostile, but loving. Yet, people will not only respond appropriately to that love; they will choose lust, lies, and lashing back.  No matter what, Timothy was (and we are) to respond back with self-control, sincerity, and the spirit of a servant.  As in his first letter, Paul goes on to remind Timothy that there are many other faithful servants out there serving in other places, all part of a big brotherhood, who provided a great example and support team.  God will provide who and what we need, no matter what. 

The Word You Can Trust

II Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through in Christ. 

Many of us know the verses which follow these, which are the final verses of the chapter: where scripture comes from and what it is good for.  Like with many well-known passages, we skip over the preceding context.  The chapter begins with an extended description of the godlessness of the last days.  But as followers of Christ we are to be distinctly different.  Despite people getting worse and life getting tough, we are to remember “what we have learned” and “from whom we learned it.” Timothy had learned the Old Testament and how it related to the unveiling new revelation being given through Paul and the other apostles and writers of Scripture.  Since God was the source and those who loved him were the vessels, he could trust in scripture despite what things looked like and felt like around him. The same is true for us today: we know Who is speaking; He loves us dearly; trust Him and His Word.

Winning the War

 II Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

This is the concluding paragraph of the chapter that begins with Paul's charge to Timothy to be a strong soldier, a relentless runner, and a faithful farmer - to win at the Christian life and win others to Him. He then goes on to give another familiar charge: to be an approved worker and an honorable vessel. This paragraph then applies these charges by listing ways to do that: pursuing personal purity; watching what you say; making sure that in everything you do you are winning not by beating them up, but by showing a Christlike example and gently telling the truth of the Gospel.  Winning the war is more like a child's show and tell than a bloody battle. 

Fan That Flame!

II Timothy 1:3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 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, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

One of the most intimate spiritual relationships described in the New Testament is that of Paul and Timothy. Paul considered Timothy to be a son, and as he thought of him remembered the tears shed at their parting. But he also remembered his strong faith and stable spirituality, as well as his willingness to step up into ministry. Therefore, he lovingly wiped his tears and challenged Timothy to remain strong in the task entrusted to him.  As Paul proceeds into the chapter he reminds Timothy that many had abandoned him, leaving him to stand alone against critics, false teachers, and opponents of the Gospel. Timothy could expect the same.  But Paul also reminded him (and us) that we also have the truth of God's Word, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, and loving brothers and sisters who do stand with us in the faith. We are not alone, unloved, or powerless. God will be faithful; may we be faithful also.

The Gentle Fight

I Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

Timothy had been left by Paul to care for this church.  His charge was challenging - pastoring a group of believers with love and compassion, while at the same time being firm and unyielding against the false teacher who had invaded it.  It was a gentle fight.  He was to be consistent in his Christ-like walk: serving the congregation with humility, setting an example, being faithful to God and to them.  But he was also to "fight the good fight", "take hold of eternal life", and to stand his ground against the enemies of the cross. By doing so he would find true contentment and fulfillment in ministry, and complete his calling. It is very possible, buy the grace of God in Christ to win the gentle fight.

His Praise Endures Forever

 

Psalm 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord:

    “Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The Lord sends forth from Zion

    your mighty scepter.

    Rule in the midst of your enemies!

111:1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
    studied by all who delight in them.

The two psalms of praise above were popular for two different reasons. The first psalm was seen as looking forward to the Messiah, Who could come, complete His work, and sit at the Father's right hand; this was fulfilled in Christ. This psalm also reveals His priestly function, similar to that of Melchizedek. The second psalm above was a congregational number focusing on the faithfulness of God. In it the psalmist points out His many glorious attributes; He is gracious, merciful, powerful, provider, just, and redeemer.  As such, we are called on to fear, trust, obey, and worship Him.  Today is a great day to do just that. 

Help Us; Help Me!

Psalm 108:10 Who will bring me to the fortified city?

    Who will lead me to Edom?
11 Have you not rejected us, O God?
    You do not go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Oh grant us help against the foe,
    for vain is the salvation of man!
13 With God we shall do valiantly;
    it is he who will tread down our foes.

Psalm 109:1 Be not silent, O God of my praise!
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
    speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They encircle me with words of hate,
    and attack me without cause.

In our study of the Psalms, we have seen over and over again David begins a psalm crying out to God for deliverance, then by the end he is singing His praises. But here in the first psalm he begins by exalting God for His plan to give Israel the promised land, but by the end of the psalm he laments that they have not yet completed that task. Yet, He believes, with God they will. The second psalm here then begins with him once again calling out for help, as he is being pursued by his enemies.  He asks God to step in and defend and defeat his enemies, and by the end of the psalm vows to stand before God in praise along with other faithful worshippers.  In essence he sees that God helps us and God helps me.

Family Honor

 I Timothy 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Family, when it functions properly, is big in our lives, our churches, and our community.  The church is the place where family should express itself more openly, honestly, and lovingly than anywhere else. There are parts of family honor that often fade away in a secular society like ours today.  We won't let anyone else harm or badmouth our family, but often feel free to do so ourselves.  We praise our mothers verbally but neglect their needs as they age.  Paul doesn't stop here, but goes on to describe more fully what this respect looks like widows and then honor by and for the "daddy" of the family, the pastor.  Everyone has responsibilities to one another in the Family of God, and any selfishness detracts from what the family could and should be, a place of honor and respect for one another, and especially for God.

The Case for Bacon?

 

I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Maybe it's because I woke up hungry in the middle of the night, but that is what immediately came to mind: bacon.  Should we eat it or not? Especially as Christians?  The real issue here, of course, is that people are falling for all sorts of lies which originate in the realm of the dark forces of the Devil. He is the great deceiver who gets people to turn away from the truth.  We see THAT all over the place today. He wants us to cease seeing God as the good Giver of every gift so that we will turn away from following Him.  Don't be deceived. Be thankful. Be prayerful. As the passage goes on to say: stay in the Word so that you are not deceived and can keep others from being deceived also.

The Mystery of Godliness

 I Timothy 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, 

is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
    vindicated by the Spirit,
        seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
    believed on in the world,
        taken up in glory.

Having called God's people to prayer, Paul moves on to call them to godliness in their relationship with Him. He begins this chapter by calling on the Elders and Deacons to live a distinctly different lifestyle than those around them, setting the example for His people in their own lives.   But Paul also points to Christ as the One who makes it all possible, going through all His stages of ministry: incarnation, baptism, temptation, preaching of the Gospel, Passion, and ascension back to the Father's right hand. Christ made possible our sanctification into godliness.  May we take it seriously.

First Things First

 I Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Usually when we are doing something with the people of God - be it Bible study, worship, or fellowship - we "open in prayer." When Paul wrote, after some brief introduction, he would reveal what he was praying for his recipients. Here in his letter to Timothy, he jumped right into his main concern about false teaching, then found himself giving thanks to God, which now transitions to a reminder to him and to us: before we do anything else, let's pray.  Pray for everyone who is a part of your life, including and maybe especially those who are in positions of leadership and influence.  They can make life wonderful or bitterly hard, and they especially can make sharing the Gospel an open door or an uphill battle, and God wants all to hear it. We need to be praying that God will remove all roadblocks, open all doors, and not let us get in the way of them hearing the Good News and coming to Christ. 

God Changes People

 

I Timothy 1:12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

As Paul opens this letter to Timothy, he jumps right in to give the main theme: he is concerned about the influence of false teachers in the church at Ephesus. But after his strong introduction, Paul steps back for the thanksgiving above.  Paul has hope for these people because of what God had done in his own life. Even though he had been an enemy of the Gospel, he had been dramatically changed and then used by God to propagate that same Good News. That reminded him that God, out of His grace, love, and mercy does change people, and continues to do so today. Have we given up on someone who needs His grace?

Redeemed!

 

Psalm 107:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
    whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
    from the east and from the west,
    from the north and from the south.

Psalm 106, which we looked at yesterday, talked about all the ways and times the people of God had forgotten him, ending up in exile.  This next successive psalm begins with a call too thanksgiving because God had called them back home from all corners of the earth.  Each paragraph of the psalm lists a different situation from which they had been redeemed: some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in, and when they called out to Him, God put them on the road to find a place of safety; Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, but when they called out to God, He broke them free from their chains; Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction, but when they cried out to Him He healed them; Some went down to the sea in ships and ended up plunged into the sea, but when they called out to God, He rescued them.  In short, in His steadfast love, His lovingkindness, God continues to hear and redeem us from our troubles. 

Praise the Lord!

 Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord,
    or declare all his praise?
3 Blessed are they who observe justice,
    who do righteousness at all times!

After such a loud and joyful introduction, where does the psalmist go? He examines the history of the relationship of God and His people as He asks God to remember him, to help him and his people out of the fix they are in.  He then recites what his people have done: they have sinned; they have not remembered the Lord; they have not "considered the work of the Lord." After being led out of Egypt, they whined at the edge of the Red Sea; God delivered again.  On the way to the promised land they complained about food and water, rebelled against God's leaders, and worshipped the golden calf.  Yet, God brought them into the land.  When He did, they chose to follow other gods: Baal and the idols of Canaan.  They refused to repent and were punished by the pagan nations around them and from afar. Finally, at the end of psalm, the writer cries out to God on behalf of his people:

47 Save us, O Lord our God,

    and gather us from among the nations,

that we may give thanks to your holy name

    and glory in your praise.

48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

    from everlasting to everlasting!

And let all the people say, “Amen!”

    Praise the Lord!

The Test

 II Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. 

In his previous letter and on his previous visit Paul had spoken very boldly against the sins prevalent in this church. So much so that he was considered by some to be a bully.  But Paul was not trying to bully anyone into doing or not doing anything. He simply did not want to fail to do what he had been called to do: tell the truth.  So, as he wraps up his letter, he calls upon them to do some self-examination as to how they were living out their faith.  It was a test for them and for him. Had he conveyed the truth of the gospel in a clear manner, backed by example, humility, and love? He hoped so. Had they received the truth or had they rejected it? Only time would tell. And that time was coming soon when he would return. Time will tell for us as well, when Christ returns. 

Sufficient

II Corinthians 12:7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul was very concerned about the spiritual condition of the members of this church.  But he also knew he needed to not become self-righteous and compare himself to them.  He knew God took care of that. Like the old church joke goes about pastors: "Lord, you keep him humble, and we'll keep him poor."  For Paul and the Corinthians, that was a reality.  But Paul was not complaining; he realized God was doing what was best for him - drawing him into fuller trust and contentment.  He wished for the Corinthians the same thing. 

A Little Foolishness...

 

II Corinthians 11:1  I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 

Paul has been treading very softly in the way he addresses this church, making sure he did nothing to act like a bully or in some way say something that would needlessly offend.  But he felt they had build a wall between him and themselves and were listening instead to other voices, false voices. He compared the way he felt to a jealous husband, imagining how Christ felt about the way this church was responding to Him.  Paul next unleashes a long list of things he had endured, sufferred and allowed in order to minister to them: he refrained from receiving support from them sio he would not be a burden; he fought of false teachers like a husband would fight off those attacking his wife; he was endured persecution aimed at him in every possibly fashion. Paul did all this for them. Could they not see how much he loved them? 

Captive Minds

 II Corinthians 10:1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

We once again notice Paul's "treading softly" in dealing with this troubled church.  With some of the hard things he had told them in his earlier letter, some were making him out to be some sort of bully who was picking on them.  Paul was bold - just look at Luke's account in Acts - but he was also meek, gentle, and humble.  Paul was not their enemy; their real enemy was unseen, and much more "dangerous" than Paul. Paul's great fear was that they were being deluded, by spiritual forces and their own carnality, into thinking they were justified in their sinful behavior. They needed to have their thinking "taken captive" by Christ. Paul goes on in the rest of the chapter doing two things: "defending" his ministry, and challenging them not to compare themselves to Paul, but to Christ. He is our standard. Let us fix our minds on that. 

II Corinthians 9: 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever.”

As we saw on Friday, true faith is reflected in generosity.  Paul begins the chapter by reminding this church that he and others are coming that way to pick up their collection to take to Jerusalem and the struggling saints there.  He would hate for them to arrive only to find they had not kept their promise and had their offering ready.  Why might Paul think that? A lot of the problems at Corinth were due to selfishness and a lack of understanding how God works.  Paul goes on to develop the picture of sowing more fully: giving is investing, not squandering. It marks an understanding of the Gospel. God sent His Son as an investment; He gave His life to reap of reward of many saints.  Can you connect the dots between giving and the Gospel?

Total Thanksgiving

 Psalm 105:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!

Whereas Psalm 104 is a long psalm of praise, glorifying God as our all-wise and powerful Creator, this next psalm focuses on thanksgiving: giving God credit for all He does as God, and especially as our God. Notice the focus here on Hs works: miracles of protection, provision, and guidance; providing leaders to bring them out of bondage and into His promised land.  How often (or rarely) do we take that look back over what God has done in our spiritual pilgrimage and simply said "Thank You, Lord!"? Let's do it today.