I have read this verse and heard many preachers preach on this many time. Read it below:
2 Timothy 4:7
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Paul is telling Timothy here about the life Paul has lived. This is one of my own prayers. I pray when my life comes to an end I can say these same words. Paul is not boasting here he is just stating a fact to young Timothy and pleading with him to live his life in the same manner. So let us examine what is being said here. "Fought the good fight", is there such a thing as a good fight. There sure is! We are in a Spiritual battle and as followers of Christ we have to battle every step of the way. From scriptures we can see there is no doubt Paul batteld all who were not of the way. We need to ask ourselves are we fighting the good fight? Next Paul says "I have finished the race". We are in a race in life to do all we can for Jesus. I want to say Paul did all he could and more but that would not be accurate. I bet Paul missed some opportunities after all he was human. But Paul did an amazing job and I would say He has done more than most for the Kingdom of God and He did finish the race. When we finish our race will we be happy with what we have done for our Lord and Savior? Finally Paul says "I have kept the faith". If anyone can say this it would be Paul. When we look at his life and the trials and tribulations he endured for his faith it is truly amazing. Beaten, imprisioned, ship wrecked, snake bit, persecuted and on and on. But yet this man said He counts all his sufferings as joy in serving the Lord!!! Wow! Paul kept the faith! Are we keeping the faith? We probabaly will never face what Paul did but we still struggle to keep the faith day in and day out. We can do it in the strength of Christ my friends!
So I pray today that you will join me in asking God to help us, fight the fight, finish the race, and keep the faith for the glory of the Father.
Have a blessed weekend and keep your eyes on Jesus!
Tom
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Preach!
It is all of our jobs to preach the Word! Look at these verses:
2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Here Paul was telling young Timothy to preach the Word! We are to do the same. God wants us all to share the truth with others. In verse 2 Paul tells us to be ready at all times. Look at some of the words Paul uses to Timothy...convince-proof of the truth is in the Word. Show others what the Word says. This is why it is very important why must learn our Bibles. Rebuke-when others or ourselves are doing wrong we must be rebuked. BUT we must do this as the Bible tells us, rebuke gently and with love. If done in any other way it will not be absorbed by the one you are talking too. Exhort-means urge, advise, use caution...following God's Word is hard and we must exhort one another and keep each other accountable. Longsuffering-means to be very very patient even when the other is resisting you in doing right. In this area think of how we agonize God and He is still loving and patient with us...this is how we must be with others! Teach-we must instruct. So many don't have a clue what the Bible says, it is our job to teach them.
Verses 3-4 describe our Nation and World right now! People learn and believe what they want to be right not what the Word of God teaches. What or ears want to hear we now have teachers who will fill them with that wrong imformation. When told the truth they makes excuses and tell us we are judging them when in reality God's Word is judging them not us. Then they turn back to their lies and continue to live in their sin.
So let me ask this morning...are we preaching God's Word. Are we holding strong to the way God's Word tells us to preach as described in verse 2? My friends it is not easy but we are commanded to do so. It is not just the preachers job to share the Word...it is everyones who calls themselves a follower of Christ!
Have a blessed day and share Jesus!
2 Timothy 4:2-4
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
Here Paul was telling young Timothy to preach the Word! We are to do the same. God wants us all to share the truth with others. In verse 2 Paul tells us to be ready at all times. Look at some of the words Paul uses to Timothy...convince-proof of the truth is in the Word. Show others what the Word says. This is why it is very important why must learn our Bibles. Rebuke-when others or ourselves are doing wrong we must be rebuked. BUT we must do this as the Bible tells us, rebuke gently and with love. If done in any other way it will not be absorbed by the one you are talking too. Exhort-means urge, advise, use caution...following God's Word is hard and we must exhort one another and keep each other accountable. Longsuffering-means to be very very patient even when the other is resisting you in doing right. In this area think of how we agonize God and He is still loving and patient with us...this is how we must be with others! Teach-we must instruct. So many don't have a clue what the Bible says, it is our job to teach them.
Verses 3-4 describe our Nation and World right now! People learn and believe what they want to be right not what the Word of God teaches. What or ears want to hear we now have teachers who will fill them with that wrong imformation. When told the truth they makes excuses and tell us we are judging them when in reality God's Word is judging them not us. Then they turn back to their lies and continue to live in their sin.
So let me ask this morning...are we preaching God's Word. Are we holding strong to the way God's Word tells us to preach as described in verse 2? My friends it is not easy but we are commanded to do so. It is not just the preachers job to share the Word...it is everyones who calls themselves a follower of Christ!
Have a blessed day and share Jesus!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
I AM!!!
These verses are so powerful!
John 8:57-58
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Here once again the Jews are trying to prove Jesus isn't who He says He is. Of course to the Jews Abraham was a leading figure in their faith and they were saying you claim to have seen Abraham? You have a demonl to say something like that!!! Read the previous verses to 57-58 to see that part. Then look how Jesus replies "before Abraham was, I AM! Wow! Those are some powerful words. Jesus has always been! Guess what happens next...the jews pick up some stones and are going to kill Him but He walks right through the middle of them and passes by. Jesus was protected by God.
What I want us to grasp this morning is who we are serving. The I AM. Jesus faced persecution everyday once He started his ministry. Jesus tells us plainly in His word that when we follow Him we will also face persecution. Let me tell you my friends it will all be worth it in the end! When we dwell with Jesus, The I AM, for ever and ever what we are going through now will be of little relevance.
So let me remind you this morning....live for the I AM today and you will never regret it for Jesus is coming soon....are you ready for the great I AM???
Pray my friends...we have so many who are not ready.
Tom
John 8:57-58
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
Here once again the Jews are trying to prove Jesus isn't who He says He is. Of course to the Jews Abraham was a leading figure in their faith and they were saying you claim to have seen Abraham? You have a demonl to say something like that!!! Read the previous verses to 57-58 to see that part. Then look how Jesus replies "before Abraham was, I AM! Wow! Those are some powerful words. Jesus has always been! Guess what happens next...the jews pick up some stones and are going to kill Him but He walks right through the middle of them and passes by. Jesus was protected by God.
What I want us to grasp this morning is who we are serving. The I AM. Jesus faced persecution everyday once He started his ministry. Jesus tells us plainly in His word that when we follow Him we will also face persecution. Let me tell you my friends it will all be worth it in the end! When we dwell with Jesus, The I AM, for ever and ever what we are going through now will be of little relevance.
So let me remind you this morning....live for the I AM today and you will never regret it for Jesus is coming soon....are you ready for the great I AM???
Pray my friends...we have so many who are not ready.
Tom
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Who are you trying to please?
Here is our verse today:
Galatians 1:10
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Paul was talking about the gospel previous to this verse. At this time people were changing the gospel to something other than the truth. The reason these folks were changing the gospel was to please man. So in this verse Paul was saying who am I trying to please God or man? It was very obvious in Paul's life he was going to try and please God no matter what man thought. Paul lived his life teaching the gospel according to the truth not to please man. Paul even tells us in this verse he is a slave(bondservant) of Christ.
So let us ask ourselves this morning...who am I trying to please? God or man. If we have to bend what the sriptures say in our day to day walk then we are trying to please man. If we stand by the Word of God no matter what others think we are trying to please God. My friends there are many out there who call themselves Christians who are perverting God's word pleasing man, they are not Christians. This is why God's word says narrow is the way and not many will enter!
So who are you trying to please God or man???
Praise the risen Savior today!
Tom
Galatians 1:10
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Paul was talking about the gospel previous to this verse. At this time people were changing the gospel to something other than the truth. The reason these folks were changing the gospel was to please man. So in this verse Paul was saying who am I trying to please God or man? It was very obvious in Paul's life he was going to try and please God no matter what man thought. Paul lived his life teaching the gospel according to the truth not to please man. Paul even tells us in this verse he is a slave(bondservant) of Christ.
So let us ask ourselves this morning...who am I trying to please? God or man. If we have to bend what the sriptures say in our day to day walk then we are trying to please man. If we stand by the Word of God no matter what others think we are trying to please God. My friends there are many out there who call themselves Christians who are perverting God's word pleasing man, they are not Christians. This is why God's word says narrow is the way and not many will enter!
So who are you trying to please God or man???
Praise the risen Savior today!
Tom
Monday, March 8, 2010
Praise!
I am late today so it will be short but powerful.
Hebrews 10:12
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
Who is this man? Jesus...King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The one who gave His life for you and for me. One day soon, the Father will say...it is time Jesus, go get my children. Are you a child of the King? Don't delay any longer!
Thank you Jesus for making the sacrifice for a sinner such as I....I am so unworthy!
Praise Jesus today!
Tom
Hebrews 10:12
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
Who is this man? Jesus...King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The one who gave His life for you and for me. One day soon, the Father will say...it is time Jesus, go get my children. Are you a child of the King? Don't delay any longer!
Thank you Jesus for making the sacrifice for a sinner such as I....I am so unworthy!
Praise Jesus today!
Tom
Friday, March 5, 2010
Descrpition!
Check this verse out:
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Does this verse describe our world today or what? Paul gave young Timothy a very accurate description of what the last days would look like. It is very possible we are living in the last days right now. Let's look at some of the descriptions. Lovers of themselves...no doubt this is accurate. People are mostly concerned with themselves these days and will run over anyone who gets in their way. Jesus clearly taught just the opposite...put others first. Lovers of money...people kill, steal and destroy everyday because of money...no doubt this world is a lover of money. Boasters....watch sports...people are very arrogant. Proud...people put themselves on pedalstals and put others down...God warns against being proud. Blasphemers...people talk against God on a daily basis...not a wise move. Disobiedient to parents...I have never seen a time where kids are more disrespectful of parents than now. Unthankful...people think they are owed...how wrong they are. Unholy..no respect for God. Unloving...if you arn't family or close friend then people don't love you...not what Jesus taught! Unforgiving...God tells us to forgive others but we don't. Slanderers....people love to put others down. Without self-control...we are a reckles people and do what we want without thinking about others. Despisers of good...people laugh at doing God's word. Traitors...people will stab you in the back and not think twice about it. Headstrong...people think they are always right and will not take advice. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God....this is a description of out time. If it feels good do it and don't worry about what God says about it. Having a form of godliness but denying its power...many folks these days claim to be Christians but the pwer of God is no where in their life and the main reason is they are filled with the descriptions above and have never surrendered their llives to Jesus.
Paul closes this out by saying stay away from these folks. We had better head his warning and keep our distance!While these scriptures are sad there is also good news...Jesus is coming soon!!!!!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Does this verse describe our world today or what? Paul gave young Timothy a very accurate description of what the last days would look like. It is very possible we are living in the last days right now. Let's look at some of the descriptions. Lovers of themselves...no doubt this is accurate. People are mostly concerned with themselves these days and will run over anyone who gets in their way. Jesus clearly taught just the opposite...put others first. Lovers of money...people kill, steal and destroy everyday because of money...no doubt this world is a lover of money. Boasters....watch sports...people are very arrogant. Proud...people put themselves on pedalstals and put others down...God warns against being proud. Blasphemers...people talk against God on a daily basis...not a wise move. Disobiedient to parents...I have never seen a time where kids are more disrespectful of parents than now. Unthankful...people think they are owed...how wrong they are. Unholy..no respect for God. Unloving...if you arn't family or close friend then people don't love you...not what Jesus taught! Unforgiving...God tells us to forgive others but we don't. Slanderers....people love to put others down. Without self-control...we are a reckles people and do what we want without thinking about others. Despisers of good...people laugh at doing God's word. Traitors...people will stab you in the back and not think twice about it. Headstrong...people think they are always right and will not take advice. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God....this is a description of out time. If it feels good do it and don't worry about what God says about it. Having a form of godliness but denying its power...many folks these days claim to be Christians but the pwer of God is no where in their life and the main reason is they are filled with the descriptions above and have never surrendered their llives to Jesus.
Paul closes this out by saying stay away from these folks. We had better head his warning and keep our distance!While these scriptures are sad there is also good news...Jesus is coming soon!!!!!
Have a great weekend!
Tom
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Be on guard!
This verse is the next to last verse in First Timothy. Paul is stressing a point very strongly to the young Timothy. A point we should also grasp very stongly. Here is the verse:
1 Timothy 6:20
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
The first thing we must look at in this verse is what what committed to Timothy's trust? The faith! The gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible. We also must guard our faith. It is my belief as a whole, Christians are not doing a very good job of guarding our faith. We are afraid to stand for what we believe in and as we have seen Christianity is slowly but surely being eroded away here in America. Paul was begging or pleading with Timothy to be on guard here. It is very important to guard what God has entrusted us with to share with others!
Paul goes on to tell us what the problem will be. CONTRADICTIONS! The pagans in this word believe they are so smart and have aquired more knowledge than God. That is why the world is living as they please and are sinning at an alarming rate and then saying it is ok. Even though God's Word plainly tells them that what they are doing is sin! Unfortunetly it has even infiltrated the church in that many churches are teaching contradictions to God's Word and people are accepting it as truth! Oh my brothers and sisters we must stand on the truth of God's word and guard the faith in which our dear Lord and Savior Jesus died.
So are you on guard for our faith this morning? Are you willing to stand up and defend it may be a better question. It really isn't an option my friends....God expects us too!
Pray for the church this morning...that we will be bold and strong in our faith. That we will stand on the truth and not be moved!
Tom
1 Timothy 6:20
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
The first thing we must look at in this verse is what what committed to Timothy's trust? The faith! The gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible. We also must guard our faith. It is my belief as a whole, Christians are not doing a very good job of guarding our faith. We are afraid to stand for what we believe in and as we have seen Christianity is slowly but surely being eroded away here in America. Paul was begging or pleading with Timothy to be on guard here. It is very important to guard what God has entrusted us with to share with others!
Paul goes on to tell us what the problem will be. CONTRADICTIONS! The pagans in this word believe they are so smart and have aquired more knowledge than God. That is why the world is living as they please and are sinning at an alarming rate and then saying it is ok. Even though God's Word plainly tells them that what they are doing is sin! Unfortunetly it has even infiltrated the church in that many churches are teaching contradictions to God's Word and people are accepting it as truth! Oh my brothers and sisters we must stand on the truth of God's word and guard the faith in which our dear Lord and Savior Jesus died.
So are you on guard for our faith this morning? Are you willing to stand up and defend it may be a better question. It really isn't an option my friends....God expects us too!
Pray for the church this morning...that we will be bold and strong in our faith. That we will stand on the truth and not be moved!
Tom
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