Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 2 Timothy.
2 Tim 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
The Apostle Paul commanded Timothy to preach the Word. How many churches are truly fed God’s Holy Word anymore? As a true bible-believing Christian we need to grow in our faith instead of just knowing a few verses. It is by the preaching of scripture that we understand God’s purpose and will for each and everyone of us.
Andrew and I were talking in the living room today and discussing how it would be possible for anyone to learn to read and write, if an instructor took all the books away from children in a classroom, including his own, and threw them out of the window. In a school setting we learn how to read and write with the help of a textbook.
Today, there are many church groups where you can’t find a bible anywhere in the building. It is very clear in the scriptures that the apostles didn’t want the church ignorant about biblical truth.
I remember hearing a sermon somrwhere that all of the men in that church needed to get in touch with their feminine side. This wasn’t an exposition of biblical doctrine but rather worldly philosophy that was being taught to a duped congregation. One of the most painful things to me was realizing that the congregation was completely accepting the lies that they were being taught.
Personally, I became a believer in Christ through the preaching of the Apostle Paul and the other men of God found in the Holy scriptures. When I was in my later 20s I was walking down the street after work one day. Someone walked by and handed me a free King James Bible. I only saw him for a brief moment as he gave me a smile and went his way, but what he gave me turned into one of the greatest treasures that I have ever owned. I couldn’t set the scriptures down after realizing what Jesus had done at the cross for us. I was absolutely amazed that Jesus would lay down his own life to save a wretch like me.
Since then, Andrew and I have handed out many bibles in communities. My wife would drive the vehicle behind us as we walked up and down the city blocks handing out this precious treasure freely to others. Someone had given me one and I wanted to give it to others.
The change in my attitude towards the Christian Life was affected by being educated by the truth found in the Holy scriptures. When I first read the Gospel John, something snapped inside of my heart. I knew there was hope for all of us, and it was found in Jesus.
The Apostle Paul understood this hope and wanted other people to know about it. He had found forgiveness and salvation through Christ Jesus and after his departure from this world, he wanted Timothy to continue preaching to the church so that they would understand and know the truth for themselves. There is a great need for people to preach God’s word because the laborers are few. Preaching is a responsibility for all the men of the church.
I’ve always felt that the church is a spiritual College, where we learn what God wants us to be. We are learning how to serve and obey him. Just like a principal at a school may have to correct certain students from time to time, a preacher has to do the same thing. Just as a dad rebukes and disciplines his own children, a preacher needs to be capable of doing the same things for the benefit of the church. The Apostle warned that eventually some were not going to endure biblical truth.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
When you endure something it means to last. Think about an endurance runner who finishes a race. There will be some who are brought up in the Christian faith who will turn away from scriptural truth. They won’t listen or hear it anymore and will begin to listen to the lies of the world. The reason they do this is because of their refusal to accept what it says and what it teaches. Because of this, they surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear.
2 Peter 2:1-3 – But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
How many people have gone to high school only to drop out without graduating? How many people have gone to college only to quit without finishing their degree? There are going to be those within the church who turn away from the true faith because they don’t want to accept the truth found in scripture. Because of this they willfully choose to believe the lies of the world and encircle themselves with false teachers who completely deceive them.
1 Timothy 4:1-3 – Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Timothy was commanded to preach Gods Word and its truth. In order to discern between truth and lies we must be filled up with the scriptures and exhort one another daily. It’s the scriptures that helps and guides us just like a compass through this world of sin. It’s believing in the truth of God’s Word that helps us to change and become what God wants us to be.
2 Peter 3:3 – Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,….
Jude 1:18 – How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts…
Some people will not want to hear the truth anymore because if they really trusted it, they would need to accept the error of their way and the repercussions for living the way that they do. When you seek the truth you will find it inside my greatest treasure, God’s Word.
Let’s think about those things for today and Lord willing I’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.💖
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