I have a friend Mr. James T. Wilson and he taught me some things over the years which is fitting he is after all a former school teacher. The first thing he taught me was a phrase. "Think boy Think." But i think we need his other common phrase. "The Main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.." Read it slowly and it makes sense.
In s Timothy Paul is asking his young ward Timothy to pay attention and learn some things. I relate to comics and in my mind I get a mental image of Batman training a young Robin and saying something to the effect of "These are our methods, this is why we do the things we do, and this is what the mantle of the Bat means."
1. "Timothy my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus." Now that i have your attention Timothy be strong in God's grace.
2. "You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others." Timothy was a pastor and his job was to take God's truth learn from it and then teach others to teach God's word. It's called equipping the saints. We're going to get a better picture in the next few verses but think about Timothy as being an officer in the military. You've been through boot camp and he's taught you to survive and suddenly you're on the front lines and you've just been handed a weapon because Paul told Timothy to recruit you to teach others. Game on!
3-4. "Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilians life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them." A soldier has to be ready to endure hardship and be ready to drop everything to fight.
5. "And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules." Ever watched a boxing match? At the start of the fight both boxers meet in the center of the ring and the ref explains the rules. Can't compete if you don't know what you're doing.
6. "And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor." Back to Timothy here pastors and teachers sow the seed of God's word and the life change God causes in people is the fruit of their hard work.
7. Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things." See James 1:5
8. "Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News i preach." This is the truth we know and believe.
9. "And because i preach the Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal but the word of God cannot be chained." Paul was bounced from jail to jail but never stopped preaching the good news. This man was on a mission.
10. "So i am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen." If his life glorifies God and draws people to God then it doesn't matter what happens to him.
11-13. "This is a trustworthy saying. If we die with him we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is."
14. "Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God's presence to stop fighting over words, such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them." Keep your focus on God and keep "the main thing the main thing"
Bury the Workmen by Unspoken Unspoken- Bury the Workmen (Acoustic Performance)
In Christ alone by Phillips Craig and Dean In Christ Alone
Desert song by Natalie Grant Natale Grant singing "Desert Song" Live @ Sunset Christian Center
Only You by Natalie Grant Natalie Grant - Only You
 | |||||||
Preview by Yahoo
| |||||||
This was not a song i had originally planned for this but was one i stumbled on and it was just awesome. Breathe on me/ I need the every hour by Natalie Grant Natalie Grant - Breathe On Me I Need Thee Every Hour
All in all by Charmaine All in all - Charmaine
