Month: May 2023

¹⁵ All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the CHEERFUL HEART has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15 NIV

¹⁵ When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong; when HE IS CHEERFUL, EVERYTHING SEEMS RIGHT! TLB (Our perspective/view of life can help change everything)

3 But MARK OR KNOW THIS: there will be terrible (FIERCE, same word as the Gaderene demoniacs, Matthew 8:28) times in the last days. 2 Timothy 3

Paul warns Timothy and us by the Holy Spirit that there will be FIERCE TIMES  ahead, he doesn’t want believers to be caught unawares. Everyone will live through such times, but as believers we have God’s Spirit living in us and the angelic hosts around us. I have often heard believers say that they don’t know how unbelievers can live their lives today without God’s help. God expects us to walk through this life with Him, self- dependence is not meant to be the way that we as Christians live our lives.

³ “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33

The word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, while he was in confinement in the courtyard of the guard, before the fall of Jerusalem and exile of Judah.

⁶ ‘“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. ⁷ I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. Jeremiah 33

There was a future promise of RESTORATION FOR JUDAH, God’s judgement was coming, it was inevitable, but it was not final.

Paul lists 18 corrupted character traits of humanity in the last days, in his second letter to Timothy and many of them are clearly visible in our times. The long list begins with two things men love and end with a third love of corrupted mankind;

² People will be LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, LOVERS OF PLEASURE  rather than lovers of God …   2 Timothy 3

Three things which will capture our hearts and draw us away from the LOVE OF GOD, if we allow our hearts to be seduced. Paul points out that we should be LOVERS OF GOD, that’s where the loyalty of our hearts should always lie.

² AFTER TWO DAYS HE WILL REVIVE US;
    ON THE THIRD DAY HE WILL RESTORE US (HALLELUJAH),
    THAT WE MAY LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE.
³ Let us acknowledge the Lord;
    let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
    he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains (Rain of His Spirit),
    like the spring rains that water the earth.’ Hosea 6

Prophetic voices today are proclaiming that the ‘Two Days’ spoken of by Hosea are the two thousand years since the coming of Christ. We have now entered the third millennium, the time for the Lord’s Restoration of His people, just as the prophesied Return and Rebuilding of Judah by Jeremiah. The Restoration of Jerusalem and Judah took time and effort and even the confrontation of enemies by Nehemiah and others. They faced opposition, but God had ordained their Restoration and it came to pass. Surely God will do the same in our day, only in a much greater dimension.

Immanuel, Stay Strong, the Lord is with us.

²² FLEE the evil desires of youth and PURSUE righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those WHO CALL ON THE LORD OUT OF A PURE HEART. 2 Timothy 2

We saw yesterday how Paul had used a metaphor of articles in a large house to speak of being fit for the Master’s use. We had to cleanse ourselves from everything of defilement to be used for the Noble Purposes of God. This is God’s will for all His children, not just a chosen few.

Then Paul tells Timothy to FLEE desires more prevalent in Youth, a specific season of life and PURSUE righteousness, faith, love and peace. (Young people need our prayers, especially in these difficult days, they create a way for God to intervene and help them. We can pray for any young people God lays on our hearts.) These two actions, Flee and Pursue, will require our effort and commitment. Once again the emphasis on holiness is highlighted, this time in connection with prayer and particularly corporate prayer.

²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.²⁴ And the Lord’s servant MUST NOT QUARREL BUT MUST BE KIND TO EVERYONE, able to teach, NOT RESENTFUL.  

Paul once again warns Timothy against becoming involved in FOOLISH AND STUPID ARGUMENTS which in turn lead to QUARRELS. (I’ve seen signs in cafes saying, ‘Will this really mean so much to us a year from now?’ No doubt to help protect the staff, from irate customers.) The final short phrase, NOT RESENTFUL, is easily overlooked but is important. When I looked up the word ‘Resentful’, a graph of word usage shows it has become much more popular, since about 1950. Resentful is a WORD OF OUR TIME and yet Paul warns Timothy and the Church not to entertain it!

²⁵ Those who oppose him he must GENTLY INSTRUCT, in the hope that GOD WILL GRANT THEM REPENTANCE leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

Paul considers Repentance a gift from God, not something that man can accomplish apart from God.

²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

How many people are captives of the devil and doing his will? Paul was speaking to Timothy about people in the Church, whom Satan had ensnared. They need to repent, that’s the way out of his clutches. A prophet we know often says that, ‘ the only currency of value in heaven is repentance’. Humbling ourselves and turning back to God is the safest thing to do.

God bless and keep you and have a wonderful weekend.

²⁰ IN A LARGE HOUSE there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; SOME ARE FOR NOBLE PURPOSES AND SOME FOR COMMON USE. 2 Timothy 2

Paul then uses a metaphor of a LARGE HOUSE to highlight a spiritual truth. The first thing to notice is that there is ONLY ONE HOUSE and it’s the Master’s house. None of this applies to any other house. Within this large house there are two groups of articles; some are used for Noble purposes and the others for common use.

²¹ THOSE WHO CLEANSE THEMSELVES from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, MADE HOLY, USEFUL TO THE MASTER and prepared to do any good work.

Within the Master’s house there are two groups, but one group has been active in getting rid of unrighteousness from their lives and so have become useful/cleansed for Noble purposes.

A vivid example of this is Jesus cleansing the Temple after His Triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

¹² Then Jesus went into the temple of God and DROVE OUT ALL those who bought and sold in the temple, and OVERTURNED the tables of the money changers and the seats of those WHO SOLD doves. ¹³ And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” Matthew 21

We see a picture of the anger of God in human form, because of the profaning of His Father’s House. The common had displaced the Holy, along with blatant dishonesty. Jesus was determined to restore the Holy calling in the House of God, ‘My house shall be called a House of Prayer’, Isaiah 56:7 ‘but you have made it a den of robbers’. Jeremiah 7:11 Isaiah pronounced the Holy Calling on God’s House and Jeremiah foresaw the Lord’s Ruthless cleansing of the Temple.

What does this speak to the Church of today and to us as members of the household of God? We can still cleanse our own hearts and lives and be used in a greater measure in the coming times. May the Lord help us to honour Him in the Church and in our personal lives.

God bless and keep you today.

¹⁶ AVOID GODLESS CHATTER, because those who indulge in it WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE UNGODLY. (It’s effects are progressive) 2 Timothy 2

We saw yesterday that Paul had warned Timothy, and also us, by the Spirit not to take part in, ‘Godless chatter’ as it could end up destroying our faith. He confirms his statement by naming two  individuals who have already done this;

¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

Then Paul says something encouraging for Timothy and all future believers;

¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,”

This is a direct quote from Moses, when he faced a challenge to his leadership by Korah and others;

16 Korah son of Izhar, … —Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent ² and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. ³ They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, … Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

Moses and Aaron were chosen by God and He never rejected them, nor told them to stand down.

⁴ When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. (Moses showed great humility before many angry men) ⁵ Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord WILL SHOW WHO BELONGS TO HIM AND WHO IS HOLY, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him.” Numbers 16

Paul, by the Spirit, quoted Moses many centuries later in his letter to Timothy and the future Church. In Paul’s time people were still trying to grasp for themselves and take people away from the Lord, but Paul said the, ‘The Lord knows those who are His’.

This Truth is repeated in several other scriptures;

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd (The Lord); I KNOW MY SHEEP AND MY SHEEP KNOW ME  …” John 10

² Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. ³ BUT WHOEVER LOVES GOD IS KNOWN BY GOD. 1 Corinthians 8

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you know God—or RATHER ARE KNOWN BY GOD—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Galatians 4

GOD KNOWS THOSE WHO TRULY LOVE HIM, NEVER DOUBT THAT TRUTH, NO MATTER WHAT THE ENEMY TRIES TO TELL YOU!

God bless and keep you today.

¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:

Put up with your share of hardship as a loyal soldier in Christ’s army. 2 Timothy 2:1 PHILLIPS

So, MY SON, (Sign of Paul’s affection) throw yourself into this work for Christ. … When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. 2 Timothy 2:1, 3 MSG

Some people endure hardships for earthly goals and Paul urges Timothy, and us, to be willing to endure discomfort for the sake of the Gospel.

² And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2 NIV

Someone has said that there are four generations mentioned in this sentence; Paul, Timothy, those who hear Timothy and those whom they in turn will teach. Paul foresees that there will always be people who will be able to teach God’s Word in the Church – a teaching legacy.

Remember: 1) That no soldier on active service gets himself entangled in business, or he will not please his commanding officer. 2) A man who enters an athletic contest wins no prize unless he keeps the rules laid down. 3) Only the man who works on the land has the right to the first share of its produce. 2 Timothy 2 PHILLIPS

A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce. 2 Timothy 2 MSG

Paul then gives Timothy examples/word pictures of three different classes of people in daily life who sacrifice and show great commitment to achieve their goals. The soldier totally given to the battle, the athlete who has to compete within the rules and the farmer who has to work long and hard to get the produce.

Last night I listened online to a Christian lady describing an encounter with the Lord. He said to her (my paraphrase), ‘WHEN YOU SAY YES TO ONE THING, YOU WILL HAVE TO SAY NO TO SOMETHING ELSE’. Christa Elisha on Elijah Streams 3 May 2023 Following this, she has become much more thoughtful and prayerful before committing to new things, because she knows it will mean dropping something else. Many overcommitted people  have nothing left to give when it comes to an inner relationship with the Lord.

¹² 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

Paul speaks of the Lord helping him GUARD what Paul has entrusted to Him (Or alternatively what’s been given to him). Then he tells Timothy to GUARD what’s been entrusted to him with the help of the Spirit. We don’t have to do it alone, God will help us when or if we ask.

¹³ Now follow the example of the correct teaching I gave you, and let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model. ¹⁴ You have been trusted with a wonderful treasure. GUARD IT WITH THE HELP of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. 2 Timothy 1 CEV (Contemporary English Version)

Paul urged Timothy to, ‘Keep the pattern/model of sound teaching’ which was essential for the younger apostle. But TEACHING ALONE WASN’T ENOUGH, he needed the ‘Faith and Love in Christ Jesus’. The best of teachers still need the Faith and Love of God operating in their teaching and so do we for those God brings to us.

¹⁵ You know that everyone in Asia has turned against (Or deserted) me, especially Phygelus and Hermogenes. CEV

Paul may just have been stating fact, but I believe he was disappointed after all his hard work with the people and two in particular were named. The Holy Spirit did prevent Paul from entering Asia and directed him instead to Macedonia. Acts 16

In contrast, Paul then speaks of the man Onesiphorus (Means One bringing usefulness).

¹⁶ I pray that the Lord will be kind to the family of Onesiphorus. He often cheered me up and wasn’t ashamed of me when I was put in jail. 2 Timothy 1 CEV

¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 2 Timothy 1 NIV

Paul REMEMBERED HIS KINDNESS (Kindness is always remembered!) and spoke well of him. Paul suffered much abuse and ill treatment in his life, this man who showed him kindness stood out.

¹⁷ On the contrary, when he was in Rome, HE SEARCHED HARD FOR ME UNTIL HE FOUND ME. (He didn’t give up looking for Paul until he found him) ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. 2 Timothy 1 NIV

Does the Lord have an Onesiphorus for some of us today? Is there someone whom we should be looking to contact and encourage? Paul was obviously alone, but then Onesiphorus appeared and blessed him. This man received the prayers and thanks of a great apostle of God, for his kindness. Sometimes sacrifice on behalf of another may result in great blessings. So has the Lord laid someone on our hearts, whom we can bless and encourage? This in turn may result in blessings for us and our families.

God bless and keep you today.

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame (STIR UP AND USE THE GIFT OF GOD, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does NOT make us TIMID, BUT GIVES US POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND. 2 Timothy 1

We said yesterday that God expects us to use what’s been given to us for the Kingdom, don’t bury your gift in the ground, use it to bless others and serve the King.

After these exhortations the next issue Paul addresses is SHAME, another possible hindrance to Timothy and the Gospel.

⁸ SO DO NOT BE ASHAMED OF THE TESTIMONY ABOUT OUR LORD OR OF ME ‘HIS PRISONER’. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 2 Timothy 1

Paul links the TESTIMONY ABOUT THE LORD with his own imprisonment and says He’s the Lord’s prisoner. Paul wrote or dictated part of our New Testament while in prison, he served God’s purpose wherever he was. The Church in the West may not have experienced much suffering yet, but that is changing. The enemy does however bring Adversity and Opposition to those who truly love the Lord. Paul exhorts Timothy not to back off but to join him or stand with him for the Gospel. It’s much easier to be a secret believer, but God expects us to take our stand for Him.

¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed A HERALD (Publicly announce) AND AN APOSTLE (Lays foundations and sets in order) AND A TEACHER (Establishes Truth). ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is NO CAUSE FOR SHAME,

Paul concludes by giving the reason why he’s not ashamed or downcast despite circumstances;

… 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

It doesn’t matter what comes, Paul’s FAITH IN THE LORD GOES DEEP and nothing is going to shake his inner resolve, especially not temporary outward conditions.

Paul also confirms that our Calling to live a Holy life is from God and that Call existed before time began;

⁹ 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,

Have you ever considered that you existed in the spirit before coming to earth as a human? The late Neville Johnson, said that when God spoke with Job, Job 38, He was actually saying that Job existed with Him at the creation of the earth.

A well known international Christian speaker also said that the Lord had told him he needed to get two people onto the earth for this present time. Would they be willing to accept responsibility for two extra children, waiting to come to this world? So today they have a larger family than they’d originally planned.

Christ has won the victory and we have to walk it out on earth, with all Heaven’s resources helping us.

God bless and keep you today.

⁶ For this reason I REMIND YOU to fan into flame (STIR UP) THE GIFT OF GOD, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline (a sound mind). 2 Timothy 1

Paul thought it good to REMIND Timothy to ‘Fan into Flame’ the spiritual gift he had received. We’re not told what the gift was but it was imparted through the laying on of hands, presumably by the elders of the church. The laying on of hands by elders was the acceptable means of releasing blessings in the early Church and they’re still available today for those seeking them. (January 1, 1901 at 11:00 p.m. Agnes Ozman spoke with tongues after requesting Charles F. Parham lay his hands upon her so that she would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. She was a 30 year old student at Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas.) This marked the beginning of the Pentecostal Movement in America.

It’s noteworthy that after Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to STIR UP THE GIFT HE’D RECEIVED that the next words of the Spirit were, ‘Don’t be afraid!’. Fear is a weapon of the enemy and he has used it greatly during the recent pandemic (word related to the god Pan) to coerce many people, including believers, into doing his will.

Matthew 25 gives three examples by the Lord of a COMING SEPARATION AMONG PEOPLE. The second one is often referred to as the, ‘Parable of the Talents’, Matthew 25:14-30. Three servants were given different sums of money, ‘each according to their ability’. God does not expect more from anyone than He has given to us. Two of the servants used their talents and each doubled the original amount they’d received and were rewarded by the master.

²⁴ “Then the man who had received one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ SO I WAS AFRAID … Matthew 25

The servant with the single talent hadn’t made any attempt to make use of it, he’d just buried it. His master chastised him,

²⁶ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ (Laziness is Wickedness, Derek Prince)

Each of us have received talents from the Lord, some more than others. He requires us to use the talents for the good of His people, our brothers and sisters and His Kingdom. If we’re uncertain how we can invest those talents ourselves we can support others who have a vision. (Make sure they have a Kingdom vision, not a selfish one) We can donate to the work and we can volunteer to serve in many capacities, most organisations are crying out for helpers.

“Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but TO SERVE, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:41-45

⁵⁸ And so brethren of mine, stand firm! Let nothing move you as you busy yourselves in the Lord’s work. Be sure that nothing you do for him is ever lost or ever wasted. 1 Corinthians 15 PHPS

Don’t bury your talent, no matter how small, use it for the Lord and He’ll acknowledge and reward you on that day.

God bless and keep you today.