October 13th, 2023

 2 TIM 1:1-7

I THANK GOD, WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS WITH PURE CONSCIENCE, THAT WITHOUT CEASING I HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE IN MY ORAYERS NIGHT AND DAY;
GREATLY DESIRING TO SEE THEE, BEING MINDFUL OF THY TEARS , THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY; WHEN I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED FAITH THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH DWELT FIRST IN THY GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND THY MOTHER EUNICE AND I AM PERSUADED THAT IS IN THEE ALSO.
WHEREFORE, I PUT THEE IN REMEMBRANCE THAT THOU STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD, WHICH IS IN THEE BY THE PUTTING ON OF HANDS.
FOR GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR; BUT OF POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND.

FIRST, OUR CONSCIENCES MUST BE PURE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. OU FAITH UST REAL TOWARDS THE LORD MEANING THAT OUTWARDLY WE CANNOT PORTRAY THINGS TO BE ONE WAY AND THEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS YOU FAITH TOWARD GOD IS ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT. GOD IS NO RESPECTOR OF PERSONS. HE REMAINS THE SAME, HE CHANGES NOT. HE IS WITH YOU. HIS WORD ABIDETH FOREVER. THANK GOD FOR THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS THAT KEEP US STRENGTHENED INTHE INNER MAN TO DO THE LORD’S WILLA ND PURPOSE AND THAT WE MAY PERFECT TAHT WHICH MAY BE LACKING IN THE FAITH. THEREFORE, IS THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST BALANCED.
PAUL MENTIONS IN THIS SCRIPTURE THAT HE ALSO GREATLY DESIRES FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER SAINTS AND THAT HE IS IN REMEMBRANCE OF THEIR TEARS. WE GO THROUGH THINGS. WHEN ONE MEMBER SUFFERS, WE ALL SUFFER. THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS. SOMETIME WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF OUR OWN FOOLISHNESS, AND OTHER TIMES SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ENDURE AFFLICTION FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST. NEVERTHELESS, WE CONTINUE TO REJOICE ALWAYS IN THE OVERCOMING POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS AND THE WORD OF HIS TESTIMONY. WE MUST NOT STOP PRAISING, BUT DURING THESE TIMES OUR PRAISE MUST INCREASE.
THIS LETTER IS WRITTEN TO TIMOTHY WHO HAS A FEW EXAMPLES OF TRUTH AND BELIEVE THAT WAS SHOWN BY HIS MOTHER AND HIS GRANDMOTHER. SOMETIMES IT IS NEEDFUL TO REMEMBER THE FATIHFUL THAT HAVE SHOWN US THE WAY WHEN WE GET DISCOURAGED. REMEMBER PAUL OFTEN TOLD TIMOTHY NOT TO ALLOW THEM TO DESPISE HIM OF HIS YOUTH AND TO BE CONFIDENT IN THE FAITH.
THE LORD ENCOURAGES THAT TO STAND ON OUR MOST HOLY FAITH IN THESE LAST AND EVIL DAYS WE MUST “STIR UP THE GIFT” DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY CIRCUMSTANCES AND DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES MEN AND WOMEN OF CHRIST BUT TEACH ACCORDING TO THE PRECEPT OF MEN AND NOT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR. HIS SPIRIT WILL LEAD AND GUIDE US IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. HE HAS GIVEN US POWER TO TRAMPLE SCORPIONS, SERPENTS AND ALL MANNER OF THE POWER OF THE ENEMY. DO NOT BE ASHAMED OF SERVING THE TRUTH BECAUSE ITS NOT POPULAR. DON’T THINK OF YOURSELF AS CRAZY FOR SERVING JESUS. WE ARE PARTAKERS OF THE AFFLICTIONS THAT COME WITH CARRYING THE CROSS. WE MUST DECREASE BUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD MUST INCREASE. THE ADVERSARY TO COME TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS AND MAKE YOU THINK IT IS FOOLISH FOR CHOOSING TO SERVE HIM. JESUS HAS CALLED US WITH A HOLY CALLING AND HE HAS COMMANDED US TO OPERATE IN THE POWER OF LOVE. IT IS NOT EASY TO LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE AND PUT THE FLESH UNDER SUBJECTION. THE PURIFIED OF CHRIST STRENGTHENS US TO DO THE WILL AND PURPOSE OF CHRIST.