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Everything posted by Commissioned
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Q4. Come Before Winter
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 13. I Have Fought the Good Fight (2 Timothy 4:6-22)
It is important to Paul for Timothy to come before winter because he will carry to Paul warm clothing, a heavy cloak, among other things. If Timothy delayed he would get caught up in the winter storms and arrive to Paul well into winter. I think Timothy made every effort to attend to Paul's request. If I were Timothy I would do the same. -
Q3. Deserted
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 13. I Have Fought the Good Fight (2 Timothy 4:6-22)
It is difficult when trusted friends desert us because we feel abandoned. It is difficult when they move away or die because we anticipate missing them and not being able to share moments of visits. No, it is not better to trust no one, we just have to accept the fact that people are only with us for a season. Remaining with Paul besides Luke is the Lord. He has told us that He will never leave us but will be with us always. -
Q1. The Good Fight
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 13. I Have Fought the Good Fight (2 Timothy 4:6-22)
To have "fought the good fight" or "run the good race" means to have suffered for the cause of the gospel. To "finish the race(course)" God has designed for you take a strong and dedicated service to completing the will of God for your life here on earth. To "keep the faith" means that in spite of the false doctrine that was been spewed out; Paul was faithful to complete the task God had given him. -
Paul command Timothy to "discharge all the duties of his ministry" so that the body of Christ might receive the full measure of all that he is equipped and ordained to do for God. The work of the evangelist that Timothy is called to do is teaching and preaching unto salvation and training others in righteous living. This command is beneficially to me also to be a teacher of the gospel and to train others along the way to faith in God.
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Paul had to resort to the command in verses 1-2 because he wanted Timothy to understand the seriousness of his call in ministry as a teacher/preacher of the gospel. Timothy is instructed to be ready at all times whether it is convenient or inconvenient because with the false teaching going on Timothy must be ready to refute the false teaching. Paul is instructing Timothy to be ready to refute the false teachers and to have a ready word, which is the truth, for any one who may question the faith. These verses teach me that I too must be ready to give a word when called upon.
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The Scripture equips a Christian for ministry by instructing the Christian on the mind and will of God for our accepting Christ as Savior, repenting and living a life in accordance to the precepts God have laid out in Scripture. Scripture also function in rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness; the one reading and the one being taught by a Bible teacher or preacher.
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Millard Erickson defines "inspiration of Scripture" as that supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit on the Scripture writers which rendered their writings an accurate record of the revelation or which resulted in what they wrote actually being the Word of God. The term "God-breathed" tell us that the source and authority of Scripture lies in the fact that all scripture has as its source God's breath. The doctrine of inspiration of Scripture is important because the source is God Himself, not man; and ultimately it is to God that we will give an account to for what we did based on our confidence in God being the inspiration of Scripture.
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A failure to accept the inevitability of persecution hinder our witness because as Christians persecutions will come. The only way in which persecution will not come is when we hid our faith to appear as those who have not accepted Christ as Savior. To "take up his cross daily" in Luke 9:23 and "Carry his cross," in Luke 14:27 are admonishments to us to expect that we will bear a burden; the burden of being persecuted, the burden of the cares and worries of this world; to do so and not buckle under the pressure. Persecution is part of the burden that Christians are called upon to bear.
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Q3. Form without Power
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 11. Fit for the Master's Use (2 Timothy 2:20-3:14a)
It is so easy to become a hypocrite by appearing to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. We can prevent our faith from degenerating into "a form of religion" without the power by allowing the power of the Word of God and the Spirit of God to work in us directing us to live holy and righteous not falling to the temptation of the enemy. -
Q2. Correcting
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 11. Fit for the Master's Use (2 Timothy 2:20-3:14a)
The characteristics that enable a Christian teacher to correct an opponent is him using the Word of God correctly with a pure heart and with a clear spirit. The lack of any of these will hinder the task with opponents disrespecting us and the message we bring. -
Q1. Fit and Useful
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 11. Fit for the Master's Use (2 Timothy 2:20-3:14a)
Good plates and silverware are set on the table when guest is entertained and everyday tableware is used among immediate family. The point Paul is making with this example is that our good plates and silverware is analogous to a person's cleansing from the former life of sin. Now fit to be used with pride for good work. In practical terms we "cleanse ourselves" by repentance and daily walking in communion with God and being lead by His Holy Spirit, so that we walk in holiness and righteousness. -
Q4. Skilled Craftsmen
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 10. Endure Hardship for Christ (2 Timothy 2:1-19)
The analogy with a skilled workman that forms the basis for Paul's instruction to Timothy is the excellence in craft and the pride taken to produce to his and the integrity maintained among fellowmen. Paul is teaching that Timothy, and ourselves, must be men and women who are well learned in the teaching of Christ and that His teaching is to be presented skillfully and with pride (love) so that those who hear may receive the unadulterated Word of God and lives will be changed to the glory of God. -
Q3. Enduring Hardship
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 10. Endure Hardship for Christ (2 Timothy 2:1-19)
Paul's call to Timothy to endure hardship for the sake of the goal is represented in the experience of the solider who when on duty Aren't free to enjoy the pleasures of civilian life that might interfere with the execution of the object of their duty, or the athlete who in preparation for meeting a goal, trains hard enduring hardship, sacrificing time and energy to accomplish the goal set before him; and then there is the farmer who toils long and hard, enduring and suffering, for a harvest that will bring him a reward of fruitfulness. I particularly like the analogy of the farmer who plants, nurture and labor among the plant waiting for a fruitful harvest. -
Q2. Endurance and Suffering
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 10. Endure Hardship for Christ (2 Timothy 2:1-19)
Our churches tend not to declare the call to endurance and suffering because nobody wants to face the fact that we are called to endurance and suffering for the cause of the gospel. There's teaching that lead people to believe that once you become a Christian everything will be alright. This lead many to associate suffering as a result of not living right. Timothy probably shied away from declaring a call to endurance and suffering not wanting to present a message that is unpopular with the masses. This trend is still with us today. We need to teach that our willingness to suffer for the gospel bring glory to God as we lift up the name of Jesus and declare His doctrine. -
Q1. Mentoring
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 10. Endure Hardship for Christ (2 Timothy 2:1-19)
It is important for pastors and church leaders to execute a strategy of mentoring teachers and elders in a congregation so that they can assume the role of teaching also. In today's congregation the large crowd is assembled for corporate worship and the preaching/teaching of the Word. When interactive teaching is given the congregation should be broken out into small groups led by men and women who have been taught the Word of God, with time given for questions from the students to be answered by other students or the person leading the group. The teachers and elders should be taught consistently. The time devoted to this teaching may vary depending on the spiritual maturity of the one being taught. The time spent in administrative and programs should be minimal compared to the time spent in teaching. At least two-thirds of the church leaders' time should be spent in teaching reliable, faithful men. -
Q3. Focus on Christ
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 9. Be Neither Intimidated nor Ashamed (2 Timothy 1:1-17)
Paul's focus on Christ and the gospel is designed to encourage Timothy not to focus on self but on the gospel and the cause of the gospel. It is an antidote for shame because we take the focus away from self and direct it to Christ. -
Q1. Rekindling
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 9. Be Neither Intimidated nor Ashamed (2 Timothy 1:1-17)
To a person who has allowed the use of a spiritual gift to lapse, I would encourage them to use it because the gift is given for the body of Christ and when it is dormant the body of Christ is without a resource which brings wholeness to itself. The gift can be rekindled by submission to the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to manifest the gift for the glory of God. -
Cowardice and shame may have kept me from identifying myself as a Christian on occasions when the audience seemed to be at a higher social or academic caliber and not wanting to appear that I was not at their level or being put on the spot to defend my faith. According to verse 12, Paul said that the antidote for cowardice and shame is knowing in whom we believe, and being convinced that He is able to guard what we have entrusted to Him for that day. We combat the cowardice and shame we might recognize in ourselves by operating not in the flesh but in the Spirit and allowing the Spirit of God to operate in us.
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Q5. Faith with Love
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 6. Reject Greed, Pursue Godliness (1 Timothy 6:3-21)
We can guard the faith without becoming narrow, backward-looking people who oppose all change, and complain about "what things are coming to" by applying God's Word to today's circumstances and Jesus and His apostles taught the gospel, applying the word to present "truth." Truth doesn't get old, what was true in the days when Christ walked the earth in the form of human, is still true today and is needed to bring man to faith and trust in Christ. The same is true for being positive, loving and pleasant; give the pure word of God, live by God's precepts and you will please both God and man. -
Q4. Defeating Greed
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 6. Reject Greed, Pursue Godliness (1 Timothy 6:3-21)
The antidote for the love of money is the intentionality of living for the fulfillment of Matthew 6:20-21 (KJV) "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." We can cultivate generosity so that it remains healthy, rather than let it go overboard by trusting the Holy Spirit to guide you in your giving. -
Q3. Love of Money
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 6. Reject Greed, Pursue Godliness (1 Timothy 6:3-21)
Love for money grows parallel with love for the thing of the world. The more you want "things," "stuff," the more money you must have and the desire for more increases and pretty soon you fall into a trap. You can escape this vicious deceptive trap by falling in love with Jesus and being content with the provisions of God. -
Q2. Contentment
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 6. Reject Greed, Pursue Godliness (1 Timothy 6:3-21)
We should seek contentment because it shows that we have placed our care in the hands of God and are willing to abide by His provision. Contentment doesn't keep us from trying to get ahead so that our families can have what they need, in fact, the only thing that will happen is a drawing away from a complete dependency upon God to provide the needs for the family. The balance between contentment and the quest for improvement is found in Psalms 37:4-5(KJV), "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." -
Q1. Greed
Commissioned replied to Pastor Ralph's topic in 6. Reject Greed, Pursue Godliness (1 Timothy 6:3-21)
People are susceptible to distorted Bible teaching concerning financial gain because that is where there heart is. They prefer to hear that financial gain is theirs without them having to exert any energy but living the Christian life. They disregard the many references in the Book of Proverbs that tells us a lazy man is kin to poverty (my interpretation). An then there are those who chose to believe that if you are a Christian you must be wealthy. A rich young man wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life;Jesus told him to go and sell everything that he had and give the proceeds to the poor. The young man turn away sorrowful, not wanting to give up his riches. So it is with many in the church, their concern for attaining financial gain many time out weighs the desire for the fullness of God. God's word has many ways in which one can have financial gain while living in the will, plan and purpose of God.