Hi! I'm back after a long silence.....
2 Timothy – Paul’s letter to Timothy
After a long day yesterday, physically and mentally drained but my heart was still full of excitement to look forward and planned forward. There was a problem with my car which still can’t be solved. Left my car in the service center for 2 days and only collected in on Saturday evening and I was told the problem solved.
Attended Saturday service and was greatly encouraged by Ps Ed Delph’s message on the Next Level – Community. What spoke to me most was when he shared that God told Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed. The word that he stressed on was “through him”. That is the reason why our heavenly Father has to sent Jesus born as man so that “through him” the heavenly Father is being revealed to us. WOW!! We, human being, are wired by our 5 senses and God knew us so He has already told Abraham His plan.
When God send Jesus to earth as man, Jesus is revealing who God is to man so that man can comprehend (a little) what is God like and Jesus came to fulfill what was recorded in the old testament and one of it is “through Abraham’s offspring” nations will be blessed. He didn’t mention that nations will be saved or accepts Jesus.
How can those who do not know God be bless if we don’t allow God to work “through” us? WOW!!
I was fired up because I always believe that in church is where God reveal His heart to us corporately and in my own devotion is where God reveal Himself to me personally.
On Sunday morning as I prepare myself to assist in Bless Donations drive organized by Sin Chew on a yearly basis, I was a bit mixed up and arrived at Nanyang instead. After driving into the carpark, I suddenly felt the place was a bit dead and when I looked up, I saw the Nanyang sign. Then I realized I was in the wrong place.
When I reached Sin Chew’s main entrance, there was life. The atmosphere was so different. Truly, they are blessed to bless God’s people and His work. It was great to see BLESS shop team of ladies (Leni, Janis, Nyok Foong and in action with Lim the only man from BLESS and Mr Cheong the lorry driver who was helping us to load and unload all the items from 11am to 5pm. Desmon Teo was my first hero who came for the rescue from 11am – 1pm followed by Rosalind who brought along Meng Lee from 4pm-6pm not forgetting my second here George Leong who responded to my SOS at 2.30pm. BRAVO!!! The staffs at Sin Chew was very helpful and a great team work with us to load all the donations into the lorry and they also feed us at their nice canteen.
On my way home after a long day, guess what? My car’s problem surface again. Called the technicians, restart my car and drive home safely and slept early too.
This morning, as I was preparing to re-visit my roots and wings lesson (we just did session 6 on Our Human Weakness) as I got to type my notes for Tian Hooi, I thought of ready 2 Timothy 4:5-8 but I saw wrongly and ready 2 Timothy 2:5-8. The first word in vs 5 starts with Similarly… As a good student trained by Ps Lee Choo, I asked myself what is similar and decided to read the verses before and the next word “You the, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”. Again I ask why did Paul say that to Timothy? Guess what? I read the whole of 2 Timothy and God really revealed His heart to me “through” Paul.
My journey begins.
Introduction
This letter was written to Timothy from prison in Rome knowing that he might not be released and will soon die. These were the reason he wrote to Timothy. It’s like he is leaving his WILL behind for Timothy.
Through his letter Paul
- encouraged Timothy to be faithful
- give him more instructions on how to lead a church and warns him to stay away from false teaching and faithfully to the true Christian teachings.
- Paul’s charge to Timothy
Areas where God spoke to me:
1. Encouragement
Paul was actually quite discouraged by what’s happening esp in chap 1:15 where he mentioned everyone in the province of Asia has deserted him. **see appendix.
However, he was also reminded of one person by the name of Onesiphorus who search hard for Paul and visited him in prison.
I believe Timothy knows all the people that were mentioned by Paul in his letter. Paul knows that Timothy will meet them in his journey, so he is telling Timothy whom to turn to in time of need.
I was reminded that the spirit of power, love and self-discipline is from God.
2 Tim 1:7 – For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
I was reminded that in a sinful world that I am living, suffering is unavoidable but God’s grace is sufficient to guard me for the day.
2 Tim 1:12 – That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
Lesson: In our journey following Christ, we might experience many disappointment in lives as well as being deserted at times but God knows we need encouragement and He will sure to bring one person to encourage us or even to re-fire us.
2 Tim 2:11-13 ~ Here is a trustworthy saying
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
If we endure, we will also reign with him;
If we disown him, he will also disown us; but
If we are faithless, he will remain faithful for he cannot disown himself.
2. Instructions to lead a church/ministry and warnings of false teaching.
2 Tim 2:14-3:9 was a good reminder to me what to avoid and what to focus.
| AVOID | DO |
| - Quarreling about words; it’s of no value, and only ruins those who listen. (vs 14)
| - Do your best. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (vs 15) |
| - Avoid godless chatter Because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. (details vs 17-19) | - Be holy so that we will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. (vs 20-21) |
| - Flee the evils desires of youth (vs 22) | - Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of pure heart. (vs 22) |
| - Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (vs 23) | - Be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (vs 23) |
Vs 25-26 ~ Those who appose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 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.
Lesson: God taught me that in handling issues, we are only to instruct and teach the truth and pray that “they themselves will come to their senses and repent so that they can escape from the evil’s trap. We can’t pull them out if they do not repent themselves. I am reminded of it myself.
3. Paul’s charge to Timothy
- Paul asked Timothy to imitate him.
As Paul shared his teaching, his way of life, his purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions and suffering. YET the Lord rescued him from all the persecutions and suffering.
- Paul reminded Timothy that he will be persecuted
Vs 12 – everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted… only way to survive through persecution is vs 15 – you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Vs 16-17 – all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- Chap 4:2-5 Paul’s charge to Timothy
We are leaders as Christian even if we are without a title therefore I believe the following charge is relevant to us:
· Keep your head in all situation
· Endure hardship
· Do the work of an evangelist
· Discharge all the duties of your ministry
Paul has shown all the above from his personal journey as a follower of Christ and he is able to conclude that he has fought the good fight, finished the race and have kept the faith.
Conclusion
After all that Paul has gone through, he is able to forgive those who have deserted him. I asked myself, is he upset and hurt and I concluded it as yes he was but he was convinced that the Lord stood at his side and give him strength and he is very focus in God’s purpose that is through him the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it knowing that the Lord will rescue him from every evil attack and will bring him safely to his heavenly kingdom.
WOW!! To God be glory for ever and ever. AMEN.
My personal note: Every one of us is on a different phase of our spiritual journey. We will not be able to move forward is we keep on comparing ourselves with the one who are ahead of us and say, I can’t be like the one ahead of me. Instead, we should strived to move forward knowing that we can get help from the one ahead of us, learn from them (like Paul asking Timothy to learn from his journey and I believe he also ask Timothy to learn from his mistakes) and ultimately knowing that the Lord is by our side and will give us strength to complete our journey.
May you be blessed and I am totaled awed by what the Lord has revealed to me.
Appendix - Refer to www.bible-history.com/isbe/O/
