Alexander the coppersmith did me much
evil; the Lord reward him according to
his works; of whom be thou greatly
withstood our words. At my first
answer no man stood with me, but
all men forsook me: I pray God
that it may not be laid to their charge.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with
me, and strengthened me; that by me
the preaching might be fully known,
and that all the Gentiles might bear;
and I was delivered out of the mouth
of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver
me unto His heavenly kingdom; to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2Timothy 4:14-18
How often it is that when a person(s) do not want to hear the truth they will abandon and take up other doctrines or leave the Church all together. Paul makes it very clear that he leaned upon the love and graces of Jesus Christ, upon God whom he served under all trials and persecutions. Paul never forgets that his final home is heaven and we too should never forget that this world is passing away and the only permanent home is the future world in heaven, a new world made just for the children or God.
Paul set forth the Gospel, good words for people to live by, to have hope in and to come to repentance. God grants us the means of rising again when in the struggle of temptation or in the sleepiness of mind. This is done by preaching and teaching the truth, truth that leads to our reason a spirit of remorse, and by this we will examine our miserable state of our own will, to examine ourselves to see who we are, where we are lying, we utter a groan; or certainly when we are aroused from spiritual torpor and this comes, not be eloquent preaching alone, while that may have some good, it is not eloquence that leads us to examine ourselves, it it through the reading of God's word that we are called by to God.
Confession must be made to the Lord, especially by those who have fallen as though they have sunk into a deep dark sea, those who have been humbled by being tossed to and fro and yet have not sunk completely, struggling to stay afloat; it is then, by truthful preaching and teaching that a person is thrown a life ring and those carnal struggles, those spiritual forces that mislead them are removed and a new and zeal springs forth and their deeds are the deeds of the Lord. The trial was great, but their rescue was greater and they, you, me, owe the greatest of thanks.
When you have escaped those perils that try to sink you, to change you from being an Authentic Christan you take into consideration the good state that you have now been placed in and the security you now have, without fear or caution, keeping your Authentic Christian Faith pure. Not by some foolish joy, joining in with others in some group euphoric trance, you now rejoice because God has saved you, has rescued you and has given to you now a heavenly reward just waiting for you to receive that eternal reward.
Do not join with others who are seeking thrills, to seek experiences, to seek spirituality that is born from a gospel that is not the Gospel, those who leave the Church angry, or have sunk to a slothful life, those who have sunk into temptation or inactivity. Slothfulness, shown by a change in dress that does not denote respect but is more like the world, never surrendering their lives completely to the Lord, those who have not risen above their passions. Be the one who like the three young men thrown into the fires of Nebuchadneszzar escape from the fires of your desires and have changed your desires to desire for God. This is then marvelous, useful in the work of God.
Here is the ending of the book or 2Timothy. I will begin Titus in the next blog. "Salute Prisca and Aquilla, and the husehold of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth; but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to coem before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. the Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. grace by with you. Amen. (2Timothy 4:19-22).
The LORD God is my strength,
and He will make my feet
like hinds feet, and He will
make me to walk upon mine
high places.
Zephaniah 3:19a
Grace and Peace From God
Richard L. Crumb
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