[:en]SCRIPTURE: 2 TIMOTHY 1
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)
“I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day” (2 Timothy 1:12
Paul was being held as a prisoner in Rome when he wrote 2 Timothy. Knowing that he will soon die, he wrote this letter to Timothy giving him instructions on how to lead a church and stay away from false teachers This was his last message of passing the torch of leadership and encouraging Timothy in faith.
Paul’s Encouragement to Timothy:
- I constantly remember you in my prayers (v. 3)
- The sincere faith of your grandmother Lois and mother Eunice now lives in you (v. 5)
- Fan into flame the gift of God (v. 6)
- God did not give you a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (v. 7)
- Do not be ashamed of the gospel (v. 12)
- Keep the pattern of sound teachings with faith and love in Christ Jesus through the power of the Spirit (vs. 13-14)
- Follow the example of Onesiphorus who was not ashamed of my chains. He search hard for me until he found me and he had helped me in many ways at Ephesus (vs. 16-17)
LESSON :
We have to constantly pray for each other so that we can have strong Christian faith. Use the gifts that God has given us for the furtherance of His kingdom. Be bold to continue to do God’s work. Depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit to give us power, love and self-discipline. Expect sufferings from preaching the Good News and call on the Holy Spirit to give us the courage to testify. Be an encourager and helper like Onesiphorus.
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