with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️The Apostle warns that in the last days, dangerous and perilous times will come, apostasy and
wickedness of men will increase to greater levels. It shall be like the time of Moses who was opposed by Jannes and Jambres, the Egyptian magicians who withstood him when he was interceeding for Israel to leave for the promised land.The Apostle speaks of his persecutions and sufferings and shows
that all those who will live a godly life will suffer persecution because evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse.
So, the Apostle urges Timothy to keep up the faith and hold on to the truth which he had received and the Holy Scripture which he learnt from his childhood.
Knowing this that all scripture, the word of God was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction in righteousness so that the people of God may be thoroughly equipped to perform good works.
1️⃣2 Timothy 3:1-9: Great apostasy and times of danger, persecution, and of trial will come.
⏹️The Apostle says that in the last days great apostasy will happen, a great turning away from the truth, professed believers will turn away from the truth to deception, they will have only a form of godliness but the power of living as a believer will not be there in them.
The Apostle Peter says, "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3-4).
⏭️ It is the duty of christian ministers to foresee and warn people of the dangers which threaten the church especially in the last days. Believers should not only be professors of the truth but watchman to warn of the dangers, persecutions and trials that will befall humanity in the last days.
The Apostle says, "Yes, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).
⏫ To live in false security and not to be sensible of the coming perilous season is that false security which the scripture condemns for nothing is more hateful to God than a secure frame, preaching peace when destruction stands at the door in perilous times.
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).
⏹️When God sent Moses to Egypt with a mission to deliver them from.the hands of Pharaoh, Israel experienced difficult times, they suffered persecutions and trials, even as Moses was opposed by Jannes and Jambre, the Egyptian magicians who were opposed to all the miracles shown by Moses as signs of God's mission of deliverance.
The Scriptures say, "Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments" (Exodus 7:11).
⏫So in the last days, apostasy, perilous times, a form of godliness but without the power of God will be seen at such a tremendous level that will oppose God's truth and deception will turn many away from the gospel.
The Apostle says, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16).
⏹️Sexual sin and sexual vice will increase as there lies in the womanly character the highest revelation of the power of sin, that seducing silly women secretly and slily creep into the open and fraudulently steal away the truth from those who profess godliness.
The prophet Isaiah says, "Woe to the rebellious children, said the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin" (Isaiah 30:1).
2️⃣2 Timothy 3:10-17: The scriptures are our only safeguard to knowing the truth as they were given by inspiration.
⏹️Believers must come up to the best patterns of faith, truth, love and hope for they can not have an excuse for great light has been shown even in the darkest corners of life.
The Apostle says, "Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1).
⏭️The truth is that true Christians are not favorites of the world, they will be hated, persecuted for righteousness sake, but it is in this dark period of their lives that Christian like the firmament that in the darkness of affliction should show forth the starry graces of their faith to shine out. Christians in these dark times should be like those herbs, flowers and plants that best effuse their odours when bruised, they should be like Christ who in His time of death offered everlasting life and joy to the believing saint.
Jesus said, " Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10)
⏹️The Word of God, the Scriptures is the only safeguard to the truth. It did not come by the will of men, but holy people of God were moved to speak, write this truth as they were led by the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle says, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12)
⏭️No doubt Scripture was given by inspiration of God, so it is profitable for doctrine, Scripture cleanse the thoughts of our hearts to reproof mankind of sin, Scripture is for correction in following cunningly devised fables, Scripture is for instruction in righteousness.
The Apostle Peter says, *"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:20-21)
⏭️The Scriptures shape the man of God, they perfect and make complete the seeker and lover of truth who will study and prize the Bible to guide them from darkness into His marvellous light.
The Apostle says, "Giving thanks to the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:12-13).*
🅰️Appeal
It is truth and a fact that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,
expect to be despised as heretics, opposers of peace and common good of the people. But, the Scriptures will be their only safeguard to truth, purity, and sublimity.
The Apostle Peter says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19). Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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