When once we get into a current, it will carry us far beyond our intentions.

2 TIMOTHY 1

In Judges we saw individuals who were faithful to God in a time when almost everyone was disobeying God. In 2 Timothy we will see the same. God had allowed evils to come in among the believers in Timothy's day, in order that the Bible could tell all succeeding generations of believers how to act when things would be difficult and dark. Remember this when you read 2nd Timothy. It is Paul's last written Epistle. He was just about to lose his life at the court of the Roman Emperor, Nero. It is a book of encouragement to all who wish to go on for the Lord in spite of the increasing darkness and difficulties from many believers turning away from the truth. By the time the apostle Paul writes this second letter to Timothy, he had already seen unfaithfulness among God's people, and failure and weakness in the assembly. May we be sensitive to its message, and learn from it. This book is intensely individual. Take it personally. We are living in the days just before the Lord comes for us... individual faithfulness is essential.

2 Tim 1:5 He thankfully reminds himself of the faith he had seen in Timothy. He had also seen that faith in Timothy's mother and grandmother. What an encouragement for mothers and grandmothers today! Live what you have learned about Christ. If you teach truth to your children, then there is something even more important... let them see it lived in your life!

2 Tim 1:6 Paul encourages Timothy to make use of the abilities he had received from God. Paul had shown his fellowship with Timothy in using that gift, by putting his hands on him. (Showing his oneness with him).

2 Tim 1:8 Though things were weak, yet there was no need to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. Are you prepared to stand for the truth? Many believers are afraid because of what relatives would say about them. But is that putting the Lord first? Our opportunity to be faithful to His Word shall soon be gone.

2 Tim 1:10 "Brought... to light through the gospel". Means that the coming to this world of the Saviour has been the complete revelation of God's love and grace to a lost world. The gospel tells us the wonderful story of this truth.

2 Tim 1:12 Notice the glad confidence of Paul, in spite of his seeing the testimony breaking up but was not ashamed - he committed all to the Lord. We will never be ashamed of having stood firmly in the truth we have learned.

2 Tim 1:13 "Hold fast". Today is a day of giving up, we know that. All the more reason why we should hold fast the truth that God has given in His Word.

#420

When men set up to imitate the administration of "the body", it will be, either a dictatorship, or a group with predetermined rules of agreement.

2 TIMOTHY 2, Verses 1-8

Let's remember as we read verses 1 to 19 they can be looked at as a section where we learn that you and I can do two things if our spiritual condition before God is good; firstly we'll be able to know what God wants us to do, and secondly, we'll have the strength to carry it out day by day. Wonderful? Wonderful! Let's do it.

2 Tim 2:1 Once more, he is told to be strong; this time in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. For though people may fail and the truth be given up, yet Christ Jesus remains ever the same.

2 Tim 2:2 Timothy was to pass on the truth to faithful men that they also might pass it on to others. It does not say educated, smart, but "faithful men" - men who would stand for the truth that they had learned. Truth does not change or go out of style...

2 Tim 2:3-4 Timothy is compared to a soldier who must learn to endure hardness, to be separate from that which would entangle him, and to please the One who chose him. We are so easily entangled with things that hinder the time we spend for the Lord Jesus. Too often, we blame our duties, but, let's be honest, do we give Christ our time when our duties are finished? Remember 1 Samuel 2:30. A good verse to memorize and to do.

2 Tim 2:5 In athletic contests, there are rules that must be kept. To cheat, or to disregard those rules, will not win the gold metal. And so in the service of the Lord, God's Word instructs us in that which the Lord requires, and we dare not ignore this.

2 Tim 2:6 The farmer must work in his fields before he receives any fruit for his work. Timothy's labouring time was now, and the fruits would come later... so will yours!

2 Tim 2:8 An example of what Paul has been speaking about - for the fruit of the Lord was in resurrection. The Lord's life and preaching seemed so fruitless until that moment. Let us also labour and wait!

#421

An open failure is always preceded by a gradual decline of spiritual life and energy.

2 TIMOTHY 2, Verses 9-26

2 Tim 2:15 Here we have another comparison. Timothy is like a workman. If he faithfully and rightly divides the truth, he will not need to be ashamed of his work. Let us also "rightly divide" or interpret Scripture in its proper way. We will be able if we have a good conscience.

2 Tim 2:19 Notice two things (1) God's side, the Lord knows who are believers. (2) Our side - our responsibility is to separate from evil (evil teaching - V. 18, immorality - V. 22).

2 Tim 2:20 Some of us live in so-called Christian lands, but "Christian" in name only. "Great house" describes the mixture and includes those who say they are "christians" but are not true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Professors", but not "possessors"!

2 Tim 2:21 What a wonderful promise is made here to the individual who does separate from teachings which Scripture condemns. That person will find himself (herself) understanding more truth quickly by the Holy Spirit of God. 1 Thess. 2:13.

2 Tim 2:22 Four things. Righteousness; we learn from Matthew's Gospel; Faith, from Mark's; charity (love) from John's and Peace from Luke's Gospel.

2 Tim 2:23-26 Warnings, red-lights that we're not to go through.

#422

Sin separates... physically, spiritually and eternally.

2 TIMOTHY 3

This chapter doesn't tell us about collective discipline, but private individual responsibility.

2 Tim 3:1-5 Chapter 2:19 told us that we should separate from believers who do not obey the Word. These tell us that we should separate from unbelievers who may even have "a form of godliness". (See 2:21 and 3:5, last part).

2 Tim 3:2-4 What an accurate description of today. We see it around us. And it will not get better.

2 Tim 3:10 But, here was a life entirely opposite to that which had been described. Paul's own life and testimony were a godly example to Timothy. Ask yourself, "Am I a help and an encouragement to others?" We are living in these very "last days"!

2 Tim 3:13 The conditions around us today will get worse and we cannot stop the change.

2 Tim 3:14 Again that word BUT - continue thou! It may be that the reader of these words has known the truth, and now sees it being given up, and replaced with man's thoughts. Don't compromise. Continue thou! Timothy had learned the truth from the lips and life of the apostle Paul, as well as having had a godly mother and grandmother.

2 Tim 3:15 Let this be an encouragement to praying parents. Are your children hearing the Scriptures read daily in your home? Teach them by showing them the right way.

2 Tim 3:16-17 The whole Word of God is given by inspiration of God, and all of it is profitable. We are not thoroughly equipped if we do not read it all over and over again.

#423

The greater the energy of the Spirit, the more is the individual in whom it is manifested exposed to conflict.

2 TIMOTHY 4

This chapter gives special direction for serving the Lord when many believers around you no longer want to listen to sound doctrine. Notice two different time periods in verse 1. The Lord will judge the living unbelievers when He appears, and 1,000 years later, He will judge unbelievers, the dead and the living ones at the end of the millennium.

2 Tim 4:1-2 Because of the dark days that were ahead, it was all the more urgent that Timothy should preach the word faithfully and at all times. The days of our witness are almost ended. Let us also take this exhortation to heart. Notice that the warning for us in these last days is against religious and ecclesiastical evil. "They will not endure sound doctrine", some get very angry when this point is stressed. This is exactly what verse 3 foretells. "Itching ears" refers to the listeners. They want teachers who say interesting but possibly false things... - v. 3-4.

2 Tim 4:5-8 Paul knew that he would soon be gone, and he encourages Timothy to carry on faithfully.

2 Tim 4:8 Refers to the time when the Lord will come out of heaven with us to judge, and to set up His kingdom (not when He comes for us). If we love someone, we are glad to see him honoured. If you and I really love that coming day when Christ shall be King and rule over this world, the result will be that you and I will live for Him today, and each day of our life. It is the day when He shall appear before the world (see Rev. 19:11-16).

2 Tim 4:10 It says Demas loved this present world, (not evil world). It is so easy to do this a little at a time. May we not be guilty.

2 Tim 4:11-end Paul's greetings to those whom he loved very dearly, some of whom had served the Lord with him for many years. So Paul lays down his pen.