Strengthened And Delivered By God

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

Shunning To Not Be A Demas: Living To Be A Servant Of God

Do thy diligence to come shortly

unto me: for Demas hath forsaken

me, having loved this present world,

and is departed unto Thessalonica;

Crescens to Galatia, 

Titus unto Dalmatia. Luke is alone

with me. Mark having taken bring 

with thyself, for he is to me useful

for service. Tychicus but I sent to Ephesus.

The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus,

when thou comest, bring with thee, and

the books, but especially the parchments.

2Timothy 4:9-13

     An apology for in the last blog I mistakenly used wrong numbers for text cited. Hope you found this out and read the right ones. 

     Paul in prison needed a cloke it was getting cold and prisons in those days where not like or today prisons where there is heat, food, clothing, television, work out rooms, telephones, etc., and is more like a resort, tough as it may be, but a society that is cared for unlike the days of Paul. Paul was to be killed shortly. Why? For preaching the Gospel. How is that worthy of being killed? Ask a Muslim! In Paul's day the Roman Empire would accept almost every religion as long as those worshipping their god would hold the Roman gods in a higher plane. The most being, to have the Roman Emperor who was declared to be a god, the highest of all gods, above any other religion's god. Paul taught, as does the Bible, that there is only one God: Jehovah, the Great I am. When Christianity was thought to be nothing more than a sect of Judiasm it was condoned, but when it became apparent that it was not, that it did not teach Judaism then Christianity became an evil and those worshipping Jesus Christ could be, and many was, put to death. Many run from Jesus Christ, from any association with Christianity in fear and follow after those who teach fables. It is easier and safer to discuss the nature of virtues than to argue about the sacraments of faith. Too many preachers preach allegorically for this has a pleasing effect. It tickles the ears! Much preaching is about guarding virtues, to instill virtues, but not about shackling and banishment of vices. There is why the rubber meets the road: to be virtuous, one must banish vices and this will put one at enmity with the world. 

     Demas was a companion of Paul during Paul's first imprisonment (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24) and seemed to be a native of Thessalonica and while had been a friend to Paul he forsook him for this present world. How often have you seen this happen by people who have attended your Church? Many people like Demas become temporarily magnetized by the enthusiasm of sacrifice. There was a desire to be among those serving God, to be among those who had martyred their life to the service of God. When it became apparent that this martyred life was hard, and it offended the world this life becomes intolerable. The beauty of buildings, the magnificent halls of Caesar, the gorgeous homes of the rich and the glitter of a world of music, venal lives, jest and wine, this gay (not homosexual for they have changed the meaning of this word to attempt to remove such an offense as homosexual), all this glamor made cause for Demas to yield to its charms. This man who was one of wavering in impulse surrendered to the passions of this world, to surrender an Authentic Christian Faith and passion of sacrifice, tot he swirling dark waters of this world. This then shows his true thought and love, and this shows us where our true love and thought is, it is a reflection of our sanctification, and love of Jesus Christ Who died to pay for your sin. 

      "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28: Luke 12:4). Do not become a Demas and live for this world which is death, permanent death, eternal death; rather live of for God, for Jesus Christ knowing that the Holy Spirit is with you unto death, a death that is temporary, and a life that is eternal. The choice is yours, and mine. Choose wisely!

And prepare yourselves by the houses

     of your fathers, after your courses, 

according to the writing of David king 

     of Israel and according to the writing 

of Solomon his son.

                        IIChronicles 35:4

Peace is found in God's word

Richard L. Crumb

                         

Who Will Receive The Crown Of Righteousness?

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; preach

the word; be instant in season, out of

season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all 

longsuffering and doctrine. 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; and

they shall turn away their ears from

the truth, and shall be turned unto

fables.

2Timothy 4:1-4

     Paul charges Timothy to be diligent and to take care in his ministerial work. That same charge goes out to all Authentic Christians, those who have not turned to fables and false doctrines. Timothy and we are reminded that Jesus who went into heaven before many onlookers will come again when the whole world we see His return. That return is when He will judge the dead, the living at that time, the return when His kingdom will be set up for all of His bride, those given to Him by the Father. While I was in a University (the name I will leave out for the University does not teach this but did allow it) that if we just meditate that we could bring to earth the kingdom of Jesus Christ. We were to empty our minds, as do those who teach various forms of meditation as though by this they can change the world, their own lives, but this is not what can be done. The kingdom of Jesus comes when Jesus comes for His bride, not before, not after. This "New Age" approach to Christianity may make a person feel godly, doing godly things, but in actuality it is nothing more than a fable. But itching ears receive it as truth. These false and heretical preachers and teachers use this "itching ears" phenomenon to draw to themselves people and with people comes money, fame, and celebrity. A soft easy on the pallet message, going down the esophagus easily, digested easily as though it was nourishing, when in fact this is poison with a sweet aroma, and taste, these fables and false doctrine. Much preaching is all about Jesus being soft, and more as a teddy bear than as God, a God who will not allow sin to continue and has taught that we, all who are Authentic Christians must do, and that is to preach the word, in truth, and at all times, to reprove, that may mean to call a person before the Church and telling of their sins hoping that they will repent, but why would they if they do not feel the sting of their sin. Authentic Christians are to exhort with all longsuffering, that means that even if you are persecuted because of your message you do it. All is to be done with sound truthful doctrine. Not just pushing your form of doctrine upon people but teaching from the Bible sound doctrine, a doctrine that has Scriptural warrant, not just proof verses. By this you will give proof of your calling by God, to be one of His ministers. God is using His children to bring to the world the Gospel, that which the world needs to hear and to believe, to convert to and also become a minister of God. Paul made mention that the time would come when men, and women, would not endure sound doctrine. We must then examine all things to ensure that what is being taught, preached, is sound doctrine. Paul admonishes: "But watch thou in all things, endue afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of they ministry" (2Timothy 4:P5). 

     Paul being in prison knowing that in prison shortly he would be killed, but with this knowledge came a knowledge that was greater and more important, and that knowledge was that He would receive a crown of righteousness, that he had done all he could to bring the truth of the Gospel wherever he went. He taught others to do the same and he is teaching you and me to do the same as well. Paul then adds: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day;and not to me only, but unto all them also that also that love His appearing" (2Timothy 5:6-8). 

     Are you fighting the good fight? Are you prepared to meet the Lord, will He give to you a crown of righteousness that He has promised, do you believe that? When, not as some preachers preach that the end times are here, well, they are right but wrong, that is, the end times were already set in motion by the death and resurrection of Jesus and Paul recognizes this by saying the "on that day" would he receive the crown or righteousness, not upon his death,  but when Jesus returns, on what day? The last day! We await for this knowing no matter how far away in time that is, we are now living out of time, for we are living eternally, as promised and we will receive the crown of righteousness when the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Jesus Christ, has come. Who will have all this? Those that love His appearing. 

Commit they way unto the LORD;

     and He shall give thee the 

desires of thine heart. 

     Commit thy way unto the LORD;

trust in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.

                 Psalm 37:4-5

Become committed to Jesus Christ

Richard L. Crumb