with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In this chapter, the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to persevere and endure hardship as a good soldier for Christ's sake. He was to push ahead what has been passed to him and wisely and carefully teach others what has been taught to him. As a soldier of Jesus Christ, he must expect suffering and endure it for soldiers are not to be entangled in civilian affairs but they concentrates on battle strategies. So the Apostle exhorts his son in the faith to be strict as an athlete, to be self-disciplined, patient and hard working as a farmer in order to gain it he heavenly prize. He was to set an example that Christ had already given, Christ endured even to His death on the cross but in the end He triumphed. No hardship are too great when we suffer for tje sake of the gospel but they are means to bringing blessings to
those whom God has chosen. Through their death with Christ, believers have new life as God knows who are His, who remain consistent in their characters and faithfully await the fulfilment of His promises and reward. But some as Hymeneus and Philetus had erred from the path of faith and the foundation of God and its security giving heed to doctrines of men. As a good soldier, Timothy was to avoid youthful lusts and foolish and unlearned
questions. He was to act against false teachers to preserve the true doctrine of Christ.
*1️⃣2 Timothy 2:1- 13:Believers are soldiers by grace and examples in perseverance and faith.*
⏹️Believers are to remain strong in grace which only the Lord Jesus Christ can impart. The Apostle says, *"Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might"(Ephesians 6:10).*
⏭️Believers are to be strengthened to duty by grace of Christ, they must be strong in the faith as members of the body of Christ, for the grace that is in Christ is sufficient to meet all challenges in this life. The preacher says, *"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man"(Ecclesiastes 12:13).*
⏹️Believers as good soldiers must endure hardships, so the gospel minister is called to endure and persevere to the task given them to spread the gospel of Christ. The Apostle says, *"You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ"(2Timothy 2:3).*
⏭️As soldiers often endure great privations, undergo hard trainings, are exposed to cold, heat, storms and often fatigue, are sometimes taken away from their homes and loved ones, sometimes destitute for food and clothing, are compelled bear heavy burdens and sometimes die for the course of their country, so does the good soldier of the Cross of Christ. The Apostle says, *" No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier"(2 Timothy 2:4).*
⏭️Believers should be patient as a farmer, temperate as an athlete who abstains from certain luxuries until they achieve their goals. The goal of the believer is to sow tje seed of hope, faith and love until they receive a crown of righteousness which the Lord only can give and reward. The Apostle says, *"And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible"(1 Corinthians 9:25).*
*2️⃣2 Timothy 2:14-26:Believers are God's approved workmanship.*
⏹️The main thing in believers is to teach essentials of the gospel avoiding quarrels and genealogies of men. Christian teachers build up their hearers by presenting the truth of God clearly and honestly. They should abstain themselves from allowing the imagination of their minds to control their preaching. The Apostle says, *"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid on me; yes, woe is to me, if I preach not the gospel! "(1Corinthians 9:16).*
⏭️Foolish speculations and self-invented theories like those taught by Hymenaeus and Philetus saying that the resurrection was already past are to be avoided at all cost, for such they departed from the faith. The Apostle says, *"Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils"(1Timothy 4:1).*
⏹️False teaching will not shake the firm foundation of God’s truth for God protects those who belong to him and endure for the sake of the truth. Jesus said, *"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"(John 8:32).*
⏭️ But the servants of God should be wise and patient in instructing others for wrongdoers may be set free from Satan's grip because of the gospel by the knowledge of the truth. The preacher says, *"Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroys much good"(Ecclesiastes 9:18)).*
⏭️The believer should study to show thyself approved unto God, they should give diligence to study the Word of Truth, that makes true holy and undefiled sound doctrines as God will approve and not men. The Apostle says, *"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching"(1 Timothy 4:13).*
⏫Believers should flee from youthful lusts which war against the body, rather they are to follow after righteousness, faith, love and peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. The Apostle says, *"Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord"(Hebrews 12:14).*
*🅰️Appeal*
The most exciting of grace will extinguish and exterminate the sinful corruptions, the sinful lusts of the flesh and cause mankind to follow righteousness, faith, love, hope and peace which are antidotes for youthful lusts. The keeping up of the communion amongst the saints will take us off from all fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, the Christian character as a result will be molded and patterned after the example of Christ to a pure heart and religion. The Psalmist says, *"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word"(Psalm.119:9).* Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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