2 Tim. 2

You can isolate scriptures to say almost anything you want. It’s been said, “God’s Word taken out of context is nothing more than a pretext.”

This is a strong reason for reading through the Bible habitually. You gain a wholesome perspective on what God’s real message is.

Moses Vegh used to say, “Every scripture has a mate.” If God said it once, He said it again.

When the Holy Spirit begins flooding your mind with verses in rapid-fire succession, you are getting a handle on it.

2 Tim. 1

Paul encouraged Timothy to fan the flame of the Gift of God in his heart.

Combustion needs air, fuel, and heat. The more air fanned over a fire, the more rapid it will burn and the hotter it will get.

On the day of Pentecost, the Jerusalem believers assembled and cried out for a visitation from God. He blew into their room like a wind and ignited their hearts with a fresh, intense heat of His Holy Spirit. They took the valuable time to seek God and ask for revival.

1 Tim. 5,6

God has a different schedule than we do. There is “His time” and our time.

We are so limited because we don’t see the entire spectrum of time in one glance like He does. Nevertheless, we can’t use our limitations to slack on our prayers of faith. So much the more, we need to be urgent and faithful in our prayers to give God, the Author of time and space, the opening to enter our finite world and begin working miracles. Then, we wait upon the Lord. We wait expectantly. We believe that He hears us and is working on our behalf … in HIS timetable.

My spiritual mentor, Pastor Moses Vegh always used to say, “God may be slow … but He’s NEVER LATE!

1 Timothy 1-4

Deceiving spirits motivate people to do weird things.

One look at the rioters seen on TV during this tense reaction to the Floyd death reveals many mixed motives and lustful activities that entirely cloud the true issues of the matter. It’s sad.

Where is the forgiveness? “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

2 Thess. 3

There was an element in the church at Thessaloniki that Paul called “idle and disruptive.” He said, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.”

There are legitimate issues in the current Floyd death situation in Minnesota that need addressing and deserve understanding and change. However, the extremely disruptive and destructive rioting there, in my opinion, does not help the cause. It coarsely gains attention, but merely adds to the confusion of what the root issues are.

God’s Holy Spirit is the great equalizer. He will deal out to every man the consequences of his actions.

I can only think of the great travesty happening in the abortion clinics daily. Where’s the understanding and reactive concern for those defenseless, helpless babies as they are inhumanely euthanized in their mother’s womb?

1 Thess. 5; 2 Thess. 1,2

Often I wonder how those walking in darkness can’t see what’s so obvious to me … their position is so wrong and ridiculous.

Paul says God let’s them believe delusions. He allows them to revel on in their ignorance to eternal things and truths that will last forever. We pray for them, that God will turn “on” the light of revelation to them so that they can recover themselves from the grasp of the devil who has taken them captive at his will.

We stand ready to witness to them.

We keep praying!

1 Thessalonians 2-4

Our nature is to please ourselves. If we fall in love and marry, we want to please our mate. When we come to Christ to save us from sin and welcome us into the Family of God, our goal should be to please God.

The Bible says we become the bride of Christ, and He is our husband and provider. We live out our lives here on earth awaiting the day when He catches us up to meet Him in the air.

Until then, we contend and press in to know Him and please Him in every thought, word, and deed. He gave His life for us.

1 Thessalonians 1

The Gospel is much more than mere words. It’s much more than just the story of Jesus and what He did for us. It comes in the power of God.

When we share the good news of Christ with others, we must realize that when we do our part, God will do His. Sharing and witnessing is not our idea, it’s HIS. He thereby accompanies the message of the Gospel with the power of His Holy Ghost.

Effective evangelism pivots on this fact … God will support and prove His message to mankind with a supernatural display of power that convinces the unbelievers of His presence.

Pastor Larry Lea often said, “Read the red and pray for the power.”

Colossians 4

Paul encouraged the believers at Colosse to very careful how they talk to unbelievers. He proposed words that were gracious and sprinkled with sensible insight, carefully chosen to respond appropriately to leave a healthy impression. David said, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord.”

In witnessing, an important principle is this … after you share with an individual, be careful to leave the water (their soul’s understanding of spiritual things) clearer and cleaner than you found it.

Jesus said, “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” [Matt. 10:16]

Col. 3

Paul directed Christians to do everything “heartily, as unto the Lord.” He then clarified that their reward for doing so would be in their “inheritance.” That speaks of a reward in the hereafter.

Rewards are not always immediate. When we labor, we do it for the right reasons regardless of the pay we receive. God is our owner and He will pay us what’s right. It can be said He is our debtor.

Think about it … who do you want to receive a reward from? … the generous God of Heaven, or an earthly boss who can’t see every effort and motive you employ?