Know the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:15)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9-03-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Know the Word of God

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:15

 

            Message of the verse:  “and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

            As noted yesterday Timothy knew the sacred writings because he was taught them by his mother and by his grandmother since he was very young.  It is good to teach young children the Word of God; for God will surely use it some day in there lives.  These OT writings are able to give one wisdom that leads to salvation.  The OT points to the Messiah in so many of its writings.  Isaiah 53:5 & 6 say, “5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.  6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”  Timothy was ready to hear the salvation message from Paul because he knew passages from the OT that pointed to Him.  The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to tell us about the Son of God and what He has done for us on the cross of Calvary to purchase us out of the slave market of sin.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today: It is necessary for older believers to read and learn from the Bible each and every day of their lives.   The Word of God gives me wisdom to handle what life throws at me because of its wonderful wisdom. I need to continue in my quest of reading and studying the Word of God each and every day.

 

The Word of God brought wisdom to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I need faith to be able to go and help Bruce and Bruce move this older lady from our church family.  I need faith to believe that the Lord has the wisdom and the power to deal with the physical problems that my wife is going to see the doctor about this morning.

 

Memory verse for the week:  2Timothy 3:16,17

 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God my be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

 

 

Evil and Good (2 Tim. 3:13-14)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9-02-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus: Evil & Good

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  2Timothy 3:13-14

 

            Message of the verse:  “13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,”

            Verse thirteen is in contrast with verse twelve and also verse fourteen.  Paul is contrasting good things with things which are evil in these verses.  Verse thirteen speaks of the fact that there will always be men who will try and use the Word of God and its teachings in a wrong way.  I also believe that the Bible teaches that, as we get closer to the return of Jesus Christ that things will continue to get much worse as far as people trying to counterfeit the Word of God.  There are many so-called religions that do this today.  In verse fourteen Paul encourages Timothy to remember and to continue in the godly things that he has learned. He also tells him to remember whom it was who has taught him these things.  The word “whom” is in the plural form and indicates that there was more than one person who has taught Timothy about the things of the Lord.  His mother and grandmother taught him the Word of God since he was small, and also Paul had taught him, for he went with Paul on missionary trips. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I want to focus in on the word “remember” in this portion of my spiritual diary.  The older you get the less you can remember, and also it is easy to forget the things you have learned from the Word of God as life goes on.  The Lord’s Supper is done each month at our church, and one of the reasons it is done so often is so believers can remember what it was that Jesus Christ has done for us.  One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to remind people of what they have already learned.  I believe that the Lord has done both of these things because He knows that we as believers have a propensity to forget the important things that we have learned.

 

The Word of God was a good reminder today for me to remember the important things are in it.

 

More of Paul's Characteristics (2 Tim. 3:11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-31-02

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  More of Paul’s Characteristics

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:11

 

            Message of the verse:  “11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!”

            Persecutions:  “1377 diwkw dioko dee-o'-ko

A prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; cf the base of 1169 and 1249); TDNT-2:229,177; v

AV-persecute 28, follow after 6, follow 4, suffer persecution 3, misc 3; 44

1) To make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away

2) To run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after

            This definition comes from the Strongs Concordance. 

            Paul is continuing his thoughts on his characteristics from verse ten.  Paul is encouraging Timothy by reminding him what he has gone through for the cause of Christ.  I believe that he is telling Timothy that he will go through these same types of troubles and he wants him to remember that through all of Paul’s troubles “the Lord rescued me.”   

It seems to me that Timothy needs these encouragements, as we all do, because Timothy is timed.  In the first chapter of this book Paul told Timothy that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”  The word for fear could be translated as timidity.

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  One of the biggest battles that I face each day is fear, and this letter to Timothy from Paul has given me encouragement to deal with this problem.  I have quoted the verse that I wrote in the last section many times when I have become fearful over IBS.  The Lord has rescued me from that situation on many occasions, which has given me encouragement.

 

The Word of God was encouraging to me today as I read and studied it.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to have faith that the Lord will rescue me from the fear of IBS as Sandy and I go to fellowship with our Sunday school class at the ball game this evening.

Paul's Character (2 Tim. 3:10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-30-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus: Paul’s character

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:10

 

            Message of the verse:  “10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,”

            Paul takes a turn from describing the characteristics of the false teachers to describe his own characteristics in this verse and in part of the next verse.  They are a sharp contrast to what those of the false teachers are and they are not hidden like those of the false teachers are.  Paul’s life was open for all to see just as the Lord Jesus’ life was open too.

            He tells Timothy to follow these characteristics of his, to follow his teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings.  The last two are from verse eleven. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Paul was not bragging about the things that he described in these verses.  Paul was like this in his life and I believe that the key verse in his life can explain why he was like this too.  Paul says in Phil. 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  And in Romans 1:16 Paul says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  If you look at these two verses you can understand why he was able to write about these characteristics in his life.  These verses are things that I, as a believer in Jesus Christ need to strive for in my life.  The one thing that mattered in Paul’s life was to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, and he certainly did that.  I need to follow his wonderful example.

 

The Word of God was wonderfully enlighting to me this morning.  It was also challenging to me today too.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want my life’s attitude to be as Paul’s was, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  As I look at this verse I most times think about the dieing part and not look at the living part.  I need to focus on the living part.

           

 

Folly of False Teachers is Obvious from 2 Tim. 3:9

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-29-02

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Folly of False Teachers is obvious

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:9

 

            Message of the verse:  “9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes' and Jambres' folly was also.”

            It seems that Paul is telling Timothy that just as the folly of Jannes’ and Jambres’ was found out so will the folly of these false teachers be found out. Paul is about to change subjects and so he wraps this up by giving a bit of comfort to Timothy about the fate of these false teachers.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is comforting for me to know that when all the books are taken into account that God will take care of all of these false teachers in the way that they deserve to be taken care of.  God is just and this verse gives credence to this attribute of God.

 

The Word of God brought the truth of God’s justice to me today, and it also brought comfort.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I keep writing about taking the step of faith of praying with my wife each evening and have failed doing it on most occasions.  I believe that I still need to take this step of faith today.

Those who Reject the Truth (2 Tim. 3:8)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-28-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Those who Reject the Truth

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:8

 

            Message of the verse:  “8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.” 

            Jannes and Jambres are probably the two men who preformed the false miracles when Moses was speaking to Pharaoh recorded in the book of Exodus.  I have read that Jewish tradition says that these men became false Jewish proselytes and were the ones who convinced the people to make a golden calf that they latter worshiped.  The word truth in the passage is speaking about the truth of the gospel.  The Greek word for “rejected” rejected means metal that has not passed the quality test. 

            “That which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness #Jer 6:30 #Heb 6:8 Gr. adokimos, "rejected". This word is also used with reference to persons cast away or rejected because they have failed to make use of opportunities offered them #1Co 9:27 2Co 13:5-7”

 

The Word of God has brought warning to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I am thankful that Sandy and I got to pray last night and hope that we will be able to pray together again this evening.

 

A False Teacher's Converts (2 Tim. 3:6)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-26-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  A false teacher converts

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:6

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life:  “6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

            Paul is telling Timothy that these false teachers prey on women who are weighed down with sin.  This sin may could well be a sexual sin that they are weighed down by.  This tactic is not only for women because men can fall into the same trap too.  Paul says that this type of person is always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  They keep going from one false teacher to another.

            The Word of God brought teaching to my heart today.

Unholy Leader's Character from 2 Tim. 3:3-4

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-20-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Unholy leader’s character

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:3-4

 

            Message of the verse:  “3  unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4  treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,”

            Paul continues to describe the unholy character of some of these false teachers had.  He says that they are unloving, and loving is one of the characteristic that a believer is to have.  The next one is a “trucebreaker” for they cannot keep their promises.  They gossip about other peoples business, and they do this without self-control.  They hate what is good, they are treacherous and reckless.  They think that they never make a mistake, which makes them conceited.  They love pleasure instead of truly loving God.  You have to be one of God’s children before you can truly love Him.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This is quite a list of bad characteristics that Paul is writing about and I do not want any of these to be part of my life on a consistent basis.

 

The Word of God was insightful and convicting to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Get through Ginny’s viewing and memorial service with out any problems.

 

Unholy leader’s character (2 Timothy 3:2)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-19-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus: Unholy leader’s character

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:2

 

            Message of the verse:  “2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,” (NAS95) “For people will love only themselves and their money.  They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful.  They will consider nothing sacred.”  (NLT)

            In this verse and onto verse four Paul is giving a list of how these ungodly leaders act and the list is not a pleasant one to read and think about.  This is going to get worse as time goes on and we get closer to the return of Jesus Christ to the earth.  It is worse now in the generation that we are in than in the generation that we were born in, much worse.  To love one’s self fulfills what Satan told Eve when she tempted her in the garden.  Paul has already written about the love of money in 1Timothy 6:10.  There are many arrogant and boastful people around today.  Children are to obey their parents, not disobey them.  People do not appreciate the things that have been done for them by their parents, and people do not consider the things sacred that they should in these days.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Sometimes I consider that I do have some of these unwanted traits in my life, and it makes me feel very bad because of it too.  I do not want to be in a position where I continue to want material things that are not entirely necessary, and yet I do believe that God has blessed me and I am to enjoy the blessings that He has given to me.  I would like to be able to say with Paul that I am content in what ever position that God has put me in.

 

The Word of God was helpful for me today, and it also brought some conviction to my heart.

 

Memory verses for the week:  1Timothy 6:9,10

 

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for with some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

Last Days from 2 Timothy 3:1

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-17-02

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Last days

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 3:1

 

            Message of the verse:  “1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.”

            The phrase “last days” refers to the time between the two comings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This is stated in Hebrews 1:1-2 where it says, “1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2  in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” The word difficult is translated perilous in the NKJV and it is the same word that describes the savage nature of the two demon-possessed men in Matt. 8:28.  The word “times” is a word that describes seasons and not just calendar time.  I think of how some people would say that the history of the church is broken up just like the churches in Revelations chapters three and four.  Some think that the description of each of those seven churches describes a certain period of time that follows the church age.  For instance the last church is describes as a lukewarm church, and this pretty well describes the church age that we are living in now.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Now if we are living in the end of the “last days,” and I think that we are, then why am I not doing more for the cause of Christ by telling others of His great love for them?  This is a question that I need to look for answers to.

 

The Word of God brought a wonderful message to me from this very short verse today.  It also brought convection to me today.

 

Steps of Faith Today:  I want to continue to pray with my wife today, as I did not get it done yesterday.  I want to get more involved doing things for the cause of Christ, be willing and able to let others know about the hope that I have in me.

 

Memory verses for the week:  1Timothy 6:9,10.

 

9.     But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  

 

 

Correcting the Opposition (2 Tim. 2:26)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-15-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Correcting the opposition

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 2:26

 

            Message of the verse:  “26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

            Again I think that Paul is writing to Timothy about unbelievers; however the application could be for those who are believers.  I think that those of us who are believers can be influenced by the Devil, but is it possible to be held captive by him?  This is the problem I have understanding this verse.  I myself think that it may be possible for a believer to be held captive by Satan for a while, and what I mean by that is that Satan can hold us captive in some sin and then we need to be released by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word from that grip that he has on us when we realize our error.  The verse says that we may come to our senses.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  One thing that I need never forget, and this verse is a good reminder for me, that Satan is very tricky and evil and I am his enemy because I belong to Jesus Christ.  I also need to remember that “greater is He who is in me that he who is in the world.” 

 

The Word of God has reminded me of truths that I have learned from it before.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To have prayer with my wife, and to believe that this will please God and that by doing this we will draw closer to Him and each other.  To be able to love the Lord Jesus Christ and to get to know Him better than before, by the power of His Holy Spirit and the teaching of His Word.

 

Memory verses for the week:  1Timothy 6:9-10

 

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

   

 

 

Know the Truth (2 Tim. 2:25)

SPIRITUALDIARY FOR 8-13-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Know the truth

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 2:25

 

            Message of the verse:  “25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,”

            I think that this verse is speaking of those who are not saved because God is the only One who can “grant them repentance.”  God is also the only One who can show them the knowledge of the truth.  I believe that this truth is the truth of the gospel, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins and that they need to confess the fact that they are sinners and trust Christ to save them from their sins. 

            This verse has application to believers who argue with those in authority over them.  This one with authority over them must be gentle in guiding them to the truth so that they can repent of their sins and come back into fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I look at this verse I believe that I need to make sure that if I come into a situation with an unbeliever that I do not argue with them over things, but be gentle with them in dependence on the Holy Spirit to guide them into the truth.  The same applies with believers who are not walking with the Lord

 

The Word of God brought conviction and edification to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I know that Sandy and I have not prayed for a few days now, and I know that we need to do this on a consistent basis, and that it is my job as leader of the home to gently make this happen.

 

Memory verses for the week;  1Timothy 6:9,10

 

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for with some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 

Being Able to Teach (2 Tim. 2:24)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-12-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Being able to teach

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 2:24

 

Message of the verse:  “24 The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,”

            “1) a slave, bondman, man of servile condition

1a) a slave

1b) metaph., one who gives himself up to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men

1c) devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests

2) a servant, attendant”

Paul is going on to write more about not arguing, and the person that he is directing this to is one who is a bond-servant of the Lord.  I have copied the description of what a bond-servant is from the Strongs Concordance.  I believe that it is important to realize whom Paul is speaking about and exactly what a bond-servant is.  This person should not argue or be quarrelsome but he must be able to teach, and be patient when he is wronged.  The description goes on into the next verse. 

 

 

The Word of god was so very convicting to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to quit arguing so much over things that are not important enough to argue about. 

 

Memory verses for the week:  1Timothy 6:9,10

 

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Once Again Do Not Argue (2 Tim. 2:23)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8-09-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Again:  Don’t argue!

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  2Timothy 2:23

 

            Message of the verse:  “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”  (NKJV)  “Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.”  (NLT)

            The reason that I have written both versions out is that the New Living Translation starts out with the phrase “again I say.”  This is the third time that Paul is writing to Timothy about not getting involved in useless arguments, and I believe that Paul is directly speaking about arguing with false teachers, but indirectly talking about having useless agreements with anyone.

           

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think that because the Lord has had Paul write out not to get involved with useless arguments three times that I had better listen to him.  It is hard to do this on my own and the need to have the Holy Spirit control this in my life is surely apparent to me.

 

The Word of God was instructive to me today, and it was also convictive to me today.

 

 

Memory verses for the week:  1Timothy 6:9,10

 

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.