Increase our zeal for the Holy scriptures

We are aware how true Paul’s prediction has been throughout history: that

“all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go from bad to worse. But as for you (and us!) continue in what you have learned and firmly believed … how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred scriptures … breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:12-14,16).

In this world we can see that many have become lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

Not many do have any interest in the Word of God.

those who love God shall not have to fear those men who laugh at them. God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We should therefore not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, but be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. That power we can find in His Word, the Bible.

Our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, came to make his heavenly Father better known. He has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

2Ti 1:10 The Scriptures 1998+ (10) but now revealed by the appearing of our Saviour יהושע {Jeshua} Messiah, who indeed abolished death and brought life and incorruptibility to light through the Good News,

We should take his words brought to us by the apostles who wrote everything down and with the Old Testament should make our minds strong in the faith.
May we increase our zeal for the Holy scriptures and develop a greater “spirit … of power and love and self-control” as we complete our “training in righteousness”.

“… but denying its power”

(the Thought for the day by the Christadelphian for the Bible Readings on May 27)

Today we completed Paul’s second letter to his “son in the faith” Timothy. He deplores what he sees the future is going to hold for believers; a serious decline of faith and a Christ-like way of living. As Paul looks into the future “the Spirit” gives him a ‘picture’ of what is going to develop in “the last days” (3:1). Paul of course has no idea as to how far off this future time is. But the description of this ‘time’ that is revealed to him has a specific focus on the condition of believers: they

“will be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power” (verses 4,5).

The word “power” is the Greek word dunamis, it does not necessarily refer to something miraculous, earlier this month we saw Paul use it twice in his first chapter in writing to the Colossians,

“may you be strengthened with all power” (verse 11) “… I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (verse 29).

Believers need real energy of mind – and the real pursuit of godliness generates such power – spiritual strength of mind. Paul told the Corinthians that the Lord said to him as he struggled with a divinely given “thorn in the flesh”,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Paul then adds,

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me”.

This is not power in the sense of miracle working, but inner strength developed through the reality of our relationship with our Lord and the Father. We read 2 days ago how Paul told Timothy,

“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (1:7).

Back to chapter 3; we are aware how true Paul’s prediction has been throughout history that

“all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and imposters will go from bad to worse. But as for you (and us!) continue in what you have learned and firmly believed … how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred scriptures … breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (verses 12-14,16).

May we increase our zeal for the Holy scriptures and develop a greater “spirit … of power and love and self-control” as we complete our “training in righteousness”.

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1 Timothy 6:1-21 Godliness (jimerwin.com)
1 Timothy 4 (cutpaste.typepad.com)
Paul is encouraging Timothy to remember what is most important. Within the group of Christ-followers Timothy was pastoring, there was obviously some people spreading some teachings that weren’t from God. Many were spending lots of time and energy studying and discussing things that didn’t really matter – genealogies, myths, old wives’ tales, etc. And most importantly, it was leading people astray from the gospel. The real value is in godliness.
A Living Picture of Christ – Charles Spurgeon (hereisgoodnewsforyou.wordpress.com)
It is when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk with Jesus in his very footsteps, that you are most happy, and most known to be the sons of God. Peter afar off is both unsafe and uneasy.
Five Scriptures (planet.infowars.com)
Amos 5:21-24
21 The Lord says, “I hate your religious festivals; I cannot stand them! 22 When you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will not accept the animals you have fattened to bring me as offerings. 23 Stop your noisy songs; I do not
Be Like Jesus! (heartfixxer.wordpress.com)
as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, we are to be a living example of who he is. It is by this that seekers will begin to see and the lost will find salvation.
Faith in Action ‘Assurances’ (mylordmyfriend.com)
Get our minds ready: Develop a devotion and prayer life.
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The Revelation of Jesus Christ: He is The Son of The living God, The Messiah, upon that confession we will build, our lives, our work, our families, our ministries. Matthew 16 verse 13 to 20.
Jesus Is About To Come!! (gospelbondservant.com)
It is all about Jesus and a personal intimate relationship with Him!! He wants Friendship and Love. When you can trust Jesus with your entire life, then you are ready to be with Him forever and ever!! And That’s It!!
Living into tomorrow (genesisone.wordpress.com)
Although we were in reality dead God made us alive in Christ. And, although we were dishonoured and powerless slaves, God has liberated us and raised us to a place of enormous honour and privilege in Christ – seating us ‘with Him in the heavenly realms.’ And although we each stood condemned God has laid upon Christ the sentence and punishment that was our due. What we were by nature has been replaced by who we are by God’s grace. We are a new creation!
2 Timothy 3 (cutpaste.typepad.com)
A disciple of Christ is a disciplined follower of Christ. Jesus called 12 men to Him and demonstrated what it meant to “disciple them.” They ate together, travelled together, laughed together, ministered together…they did life together! When He was ascending back into heaven, after His resurrection He commissioned the disciples (and by the nature of discipleship, all disciples where were to follow) to go and make disciples of all nations. That is where we find ourselves today – still commissioned to make disciples (disciplined followers of Christ) of all nations.
Persevering Through Until the End (childofgodsgrace.wordpress.com)
There is no room for laziness in the life of a Christian. A new believer is truthfully taught that “…it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). But a believer can become idle if he erroneously believes God expects no fruit from a transformed life.