Tag: hardship
The unashamed workman!
Scripture reading for October 23rd: 2nd Timothy 2:1-21
The world has ways of intimidating the Christian. Christians have been made fun of, ridiculed, marginalized, and even physically threatened and tortured as well as martyred! Paul, himself, knew the dangers, had the tee shirt, and was in jail as he wrote to Timothy about the calling to preach the Gospel.
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2nd Timothy 2:1-3) Timothy was to set his heart to the task at hand. After winning people to Christ, the task of discipleship meant finding those who would reliably follow Christ and equipping them to take the Gospel to others. Through multiplication the world would be reached. This work would require enduring hardship because of the spiritual opposition.
The central message was the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Jesus was the Son of God, died for our sins, was raised from the dead and is coming again. If we chose to live for Him here, we will reign with Him when He comes. If we disown Him, He will disown us. Timothy was to entrust this message to the reliable workers.
“Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2nd Timothy 2:14-15) Timothy would need to stick with God’s word and faithfully preach it. Wrangling about words and petty doctrines instead of preaching the gospel message and godly living was useless. False teachers always tried to get the people off track. Timothy must correctly handle the word of truth in order to be approved of God.
“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2nd Timothy 2:19) The unashamed workman will confess Jesus Christ as Lord and back it up with a holy life. God is faithful to keep His own!
Entering the kingdom through hardship!
Scripture reading for June 22nd: Acts 14:8-28
Today’s prosperity gospel promises health, wealth and good times to those who will believe. Those who preach this false gospel take the promises of God out of context or pick the ones that sound good and ignore the rest for their own gain and to draw a crowd. They know how to use the Scriptures to their own advantage and tickle people’s ears! The record of the ministry of Jesus and the church in Acts tells the true Gospel!
Jesus preached a message of the Kingdom of God that commanded people to repent! He told his disciples that they would be blessed when they suffered hatred, insults and rejection because of Him. They would be blessed if they were poor, hungry and weeping for His sake. In fact if all men were speaking well of you, you probably were a false prophet! (Luke 6:20-26)
At Lystra, Paul was used by God to heal a crippled man who was lame from birth. Paul and Barnabas had a time with the crowd that gathered and tried to worship them. They preached to them until some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and dragged Paul out of the city and stoned him. The disciples prayed over him and God raised him up and he went back into the city. (Acts 14:8-20)
“Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they put their trust.” (Acts 14:21b-23) These disciples were fearless, realizing that God would take care of them. They gave their lives to help God’s church and do what Jesus had commanded them. They did not experience or preach a ‘prosperity’ gospel, but lived in the power and joy of the Holy Spirit accepting hardship and persecution as part of the package.
As you read these accounts of the early church and the preaching of these first apostles and missionaries, do you think the church today is preaching the same Gospel? Are you living by the Gospel that Jesus and Paul preached? Today is a good day to repent and be filled with the Holy Spirit!