INTRODUCTION: We pick up where we left off in PART 1 in this second chapter of Paul’s epistle to his protégé and son in the faith, Timothy, pastor of the church at Ephesus.
In this second half, we’ll venture into Paul’s admonition to Timothy regarding the elders and church leadership, that he will “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”
He encourages Timothy to be diligent in the study of the Word, to shun babblings that are born of and excite strife and contention among the church. The apostle addresses how the LORD will operate through those of His that are sanctified and usable and will refrain from those not sanctified.
He ends this section of his epistle with the manner and conduct of the servant of the LORD. So without any further delay, let’s get into these instructions and admonitions!
2 TIMOTHY 2:11-15
11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him*. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent in study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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by James Fire
“REPENT! For THE END is NEAR!”
Doesn’t this spark an image in your mind of a long haired, bearded, barefoot prophet striding along the streets of New York or L.A., with a placard hanging from his neck and these words painted in bold letters?
Critics of a wide variety have disparaged this notion with no small amount of skepticism, even ridicule. Interestingly enough, the Bible says that this would be the prevailing view in the last days prior to the Second Coming of the LORD Jesus Christ:
2 PETER 3:3-4
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying,
"Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
They point out that Jesus said He would return quickly (REV 3:11; 22:7,12) and it’s been two thousand years already! What they fail to realize is that He was referring to the manner of His arrival, not a time duration.
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Originally published on The Berean Call on November 1, 2000
Dave Hunt
Listen to the audio version of this article here.
When our Lord Jesus Christ was on earth He repeatedly said to those who would listen to His Word, “Come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21; Luke 18:22, etc.). Large numbers of the Jews, because they or a relative or friend had been healed or fed by Christ, followed Him wherever He went: “And there followed him great multitudes of people…and he healed them all…” (Matthew 5:1; 8:1; 12:15; 13:2, etc.). So large and eager were the crowds that He and His twelve disciples “could not so much as eat bread. And…his friends…said, He is beside himself” (Mark 3:20-21).
Christ’s call to follow Him is extended to all mankind. No hint that Jesus was not sincere in saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (John 7:37). What He still offers to all is the same “living water [of] everlasting life” which He offered to the woman at the well (John:4:10-14).
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~ by James Fire
INTRODUCTION:
In these last two parables, we see the LORD Jesus as the primary focus – as He and His kingdom are in all of the parables. In these He is portrayed as both a shepherd and a vine. Both of these provide for the needs of others – the shepherd for his sheep, the vine for its branches and subsequent fruit.
Both are required for prosperous life; sheep would be a constant on the menu of wolves and bears if not for shepherds to guard them; branches and fruit could not have life if not for the nutrient provisions of the vine.
There is much we can glean from these two as we close this series on the parables. Certainly this is not an exhaustive examination, and there are likely other parables that have escaped my notice; I’ll leave to the reader to discover these miniature spiritual stories used to convey biblical truth for themselves.
We have a parable here that speaks of the LORD as the Good Shepherd and characteristics both of this Shepherd, His sheep, and still other sheep:
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Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez, and James Fire
NUMBERS 27: A NEW LEADER IS CHOSEN by Sonny Islas
For the full message, watch it on the Facebook video!
INTRODUCTION: Moses’ leadership is now winding down and a new leader will take his place – his faithful sidekick Joshua. But first, we will briefly read about, five faith filled sisters, who approach Moses with a special petition that pleased the LORD and therefore brought about a new law. Some have wrongfully and arrogantly called God a chauvinist (a sexist), but this couldn’t be further from the truth because here we’ll see God’s tender concern for women’s needs.
NUMBERS 27:1-11 (A NEW INHERITANCE LAW)
1 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, from the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the leaders and all the congregation, by the doorway of the tabernacle of meeting, saying: 3 "Our father died in the wilderness; but he was not in the company of those who gathered together against the LORD, in company with Korah, but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons. 4 "Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father's brothers." 5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD. 6 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 7 "The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father's brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them. 8 "And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'If a man dies and has no son, then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. 9 'If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 'If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11 'And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the relative closest him in his family, and he shall possess it.'" And it shall be to the children of Israel a statute of judgment, just as the LORD commanded Moses.
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INTRODUCTION: The LORD seldom works quickly in spiritual matters unless it serves His purpose to do so. He prefers to use the slow, steady process in our spiritual development which requires patience on our part. We’ll learn about this in this chapter. We’ll also examine the supposed contrast between Christ’s Gospel and Paul’s – there are those who would argue that the apostle altered the Gospel from the original message as preached by the LORD Jesus, but as we shall see, this is not the case. Among other topics we’ll address discipleship and our relationship with the Scriptures. Let’s begin then with the study!
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