14 But as for you, CONTINUE IN WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND HAVE BECOME CONVINCED OF, (MADE YOUR OWN) BECAUSE YOU KNOW FROM WHOM YOU HAVE LEARNED IT, 15 AND HOW FROM INFANCY YOU HAVE KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, … 2 Timothy 3
Paul reminds Timothy to CONTINUE in what he has learned, despite the times he’s living in, ‘going from bad to worse’. In these verses Paul reminds Timothy, his spiritual son, about two things, which he Timothy, Knows. We are all different and learn in different ways. Some people are academics and learn much in a college system. Others are more practical and gain more from a hands on approach. Jesus taught the disciples and demonstrated the Kingdom to them, but then after some time He delegated His Authority and sent them out in pairs to do what He’d been doing. Matthew 10, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1
The first thing Paul reminds Timothy of is that he Knows FROM WHOM HE HAS LEARNED the things of the Faith, Paul and perhaps other apostles. I studied in University, but in the things of the Spirit, God set me with two spiritual fathers – I LEARNED BY ASSOCIATION WITH EXPERIENCED MEN OF GOD. I often visited the home of my first mentor who lived locally. My next spiritual Father was from the nation of Sweden and most of the time I spent travelling with teams he led to various nations.
There seems to be an increased discussion today of the Fivefold Ministry being raised up in the Church, with the apostles and the prophets being the most recent offices to be restored.
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 TO EQUIP HIS PEOPLE FOR WORKS OF SERVICE, SO THAT THE BODY OF CHRIST MAY BE BUILT UP 13 UNTIL WE ALL REACH UNITY IN THE FAITH and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the WHOLE MEASURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST. Ephesians 4
The Lord has a vision for the body and it’s going to include people in all the different offices bringing the Church to full maturity. (Not fulfilling our own agendas, those days must end for the Lord’s purpose to prevail!)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the SERVANT OF GOD MAY BE THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. 2 Timothy 3
God’s inspired Word is the training manual for His people here on earth, but it’s also His Living Word. The Spirit of God teaches, then He also rebukes and corrects, and finally His Word trains us in righteousness.
The Lord has a vision for His Church and He’s going to fulfil it but the things Paul spoke of will have to be evident before that vision can come to pass.
24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6