II Timothy 3, Tolerance

 

II Timothy 3, Tolerance

There is a time for tolerance; there is also a time for intolerance. Being tolerant can be a positive characteristic when dealing with people’s idiosyncrasies or weaknesses. Tolerance is also positive when it frees someone from prejudice toward a person’s race or culture. But believer’s must not be tolerant of anyone who claims to teach the faith while living opposed to it. “Having a form of godliness but denying it’s power.” “From such people we are to turn away.” Exclaims Paul, for they cause great danger in weak believers. That’s the kind of tolerance we don’t need.

I recently read a poll on what Christians believe. The percentage of those who believed that the Bible was true and factual was very low. Some believed that the Bible was full of myths and fairy tales. Some believed that only parts of the Bible were true, other parts were not to be taken literally. Some believe that only the New Testament is relevant for today. Those who do not believe that the Bible is true, cannot believe the verse that says the Bible is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. The Bible stands alone in all truth and accuracy. When we believe that, then we will be complete and equipped for every good work. We need to pray for those who claim to teach the faith while living opposed to it. In other words, we should always practice what we preach and stay away from those who don’t.

Timothy had been learning the Holy scriptures from childhood. Christian parents have the God-given responsibility to raise their children to know and love God and His word. Young children can learn the great truths and stories found in the Bible that show God’s love and power. Teaching given to children will be embedded in their minds, giving them a strong foundation on which to build. That training can make them “wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

 

II Timothy 2, God's Grace

 

II Timothy 2 God’s Grace

God worked through the many teachers in the early church, protecting His message so that it did not get changed as it was passed from person to person, from one generation to the next. The early believers had no written New Testament, but they depended on the spoken gospel message as it was taught to them by others. The process is called mentoring, and through it God’s message is taught to people who in turn will teach others. Although Paul was nearing the end of this earthly life, his ministry would continue because he mentored Timothy. Eventually Timothy would die too, so he would need to commit the message to “faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” In that way, the message would move across the world and across the centuries. We are believers today because faithful people have been teaching others, so the message continues. God has given us that responsibility.

Paul warned Timothy that false teachers would attempt to distort the gospel message. The best weapon against false teaching is the truth of God’s word, in the hands of diligent workers who have no need to be ashamed of it or their handling of it. Believers who are “rightly dividing the word of truth” know God’s Word have not changed from Timothy’s Day to today. We ought to diligently study the Bible so that we can know and share its truths with others correctly.

Paul explained that believers have a responsibility to be pure. No matter what a person’s past, God will forgive. Once someone believes, the Holy Spirit enters their life to help them deal with the continual temptations of the sinful nature. Some situations are more tempting for a person than others are, and in such cases the believer’s best resource may simply be to flee. The “youthful lusts” here are not just sexual desires, although these are included. The area of temptation that causes us the most difficulty may be the one from which we must simply run. God is not dishonored when we flee temptation. He is dishonored when we give in.

Paul taught Timothy how to deal with those who oppose the church. The same goes for parents who are dealing with “opposing children. Timothy was not to give up on them, and parents should not give up on their contrary children, because they don’t know “if God will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth. We must entrust our rebellious children to God.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

II Timothy 1, Paul's Last Letter to Timothy

 

II Timothy 1 Paul’s Last letter to Timothy

While writing this letter Paul was awaiting execution in a Roman prison. Paul encourages Timothy to live a life marked by faithful service, even in the face of suffering and persecution. He commends Timothy’s mother and grandmother in their faithful training. When Paul met them they lived in Lystra and he converted the whole family. Timothy’s father was a Greek, not a Jew. It was unusual for a Jewish woman to marry outside her faith, but Eunice had done so. She held fast to her Jewish faith and taught Timothy her beliefs. There is no record that his father objected to this so we can assume he was content with Eunice and Lois’ teaching. Through their teaching and Paul’s instruction, God had fashioned a young man who would serve the great apostle in many ways, eventually leading his own church.

Paul tells Timothy not to worry. He said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.” Worry can be a natural first reaction to an uncertain situation, but to persist in worry reveals a lack of trust that God is in charge. God gives us “Power”. Power helps us have strength of character and confidence in any situation. Love helps us graciously deal with difficult people. A sound mind helps us remain self-controlled and self-disciplined no matter what happens. We can set aside worry and replace it with these gift from God.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

I Timothy 6, Root of all Evil.

 

I Timothy 6- Root of all Evil.

The Bible doesn’t say that money is the root of all evil. Everybody needs money, no one can live without it. Money buys food and pays the bills. Financial donations help ministries support missionaries all over the world. Church offerings help pay the preacher. Money can do good things for God’s kingdom.

The root of all evil is the love of money. People who love money simply desire to be rich more than anything else. Too often, as the Bible says, this leads them into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts. Those who love money never have enough, and they do any number of foolish, illegal, or risky things in order to obtain more. They are never satisfied.

How do believers stay away from the love of money? Godliness with contentment is the answer. When we are content with what we have, we can give the extra back to Him.

Paul described Timothy as a man of God, certainly a fitting title for all men who seek to serve the Lord. In contrast to some who have strayed from the faith, God’s men are to flee from the love of money, and to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. This is not an exhaustive list of all the characteristics of a godly man, but it certainly is a good start. Men who seek to live this way in all areas of their life, work, family, church, relationships, will find true fulfillment and success.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

I Timothy 5, Taking Care of Business.

 

I Timothy 5, Taking Care of Business

 

To neglect one’s basic responsibility of care and support of the family is the same as denying the faith. No one can claim love for and allegiance to God while neglecting to provide for their family. Paul called such an irresponsible person “worse than an unbeliever,” for even unbelievers understand family responsibility. God gives us our families and they are our first responsibility. We show our love for God through how we treat our family. We can thank God for the work He provides whereby we can take care of those who depend on us.

The truth taught is that people with too much time on their hands often get into trouble. Without enough work to occupy their time, such people can become gossips and busybodies, visiting from house to house, “saying things which they ought not.” That describes gossip, saying things that shouldn’t be repeated. We should be careful about what we say, seeking to make sure that our words are truthful, loving, and edifying.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.

 

I Timothy 4, The Great Apostasy

 

I Timothy 4 The Great Apostasy

Paul speaks out to Timothy about False teachers. They abound today just as they did on Paul’s day. They may teach that God is in nature, or that God is found within oneself. Others may teach that God wants people to be rich or that He will not judge anyone. But any teaching that is contrary to God’s Word is a lie. When people follow these teaching, they are “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons”, Believers must be on guard against false teaching, and we need to check every teaching against the truth in God’s Word.

Anyone who has begun a new exercise program realizes self-control is needed, as well as the constant temptation to give up. It takes great discipline to keep striving to see results. The same is true for spiritual training. Believers need to “exercise” themselves toward “godliness”. It doesn’t happen overnight; godliness is a process of discipline and self-control, with some days being easier than others. Every day brings temptations and difficulties, and believers must discipline themselves to stay on track with God.

Believers have a great future promised by God. They train themselves toward godliness to be saved but because they are saved and want to be ready for eternity with Christ, they are willing to work hard, deny themselves certain activities, and face reproach from an unbelieving world because they trust in the living God. Their trust is in the One who died and rose again, not in philosophy, a set of rules, personal achievement, or a standard of behavior. That trust in the living God is their anchor, their hope, their certain future. When we place our trust in God, we have nothing to fear.

Timothy had experienced many changes in his young life. When he received this letter from Paul, he was already the preacher of a large church that Paul had started in Ephesus. Timothy was born of a Jewish mother and a Greek father and had received his training from his mother and Grandmother. Timothy seemed to be somewhat a leader but with Paul behind him and encouraging him, he grew into a strong leader. Many of his missions were taken in Paul’s place while Paul was in prison. As with Timothy, we grow, we develop, we mature. Some of us go through many changes before becoming Christians. Others come to the Lord at a young age and experience changes with God. Hopefully, the changes that come into our life will help us grow and mature as Timothy did. When we are open to God’s will, we never know what surprises He may have for us.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee

I Timothy 3, Qualifications of Church Leadership

 

I Timothy 3 Qualifications of Church Leadership

This chapter centers around being a good Elder and Deacon but most of all being God’s child. An Elder must not be new but well studied. He must be blameless in the home and outside the home. Must have the reputation of ruling his house well with patience and loving kindness and must have a good reputation outside of the home in the community in which he lives.

Deacons follow the same standards as the Elder only they must first be tested and found blameless. They must answer to “what is their motive?” Is it for prestige or for service to the Lord. What is their goal? Is it to serve self or the Lord?

“God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles.” This affirms both the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. He is human, have been “manifested in the flesh,” and He is divine. Having been “received up in glory.” This is the great mystery of godliness. We become godly not by trying to be good enough, but by depending on Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect human life, then He rose again to make it possible for us to one day be with Him. We can please God by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ. We live for Him by being His own.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.