2 Timothy 2: Are You Studying God’s Word?
Verse of the Day: (V15) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
1. Be Strong (V1-2)
V1 “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong in the grace of Jesus despite the strong opposition from the unbelieving Romans who were in control of the regions at that time. He also taught Timothy to train faithful Christians in God’s Word, and in turn, they too trained others, so that the gospel of Christ be spread to the regions beyond till the Lord’s return.
V2 “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
2. Be Studying (V3-18)
V16 “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
Paul reminded Timothy to avoid non-essential issues in the ministry, as they were unprofitable and ungodly, and distracted him from preaching God’s Word to the regions beyond. He also warned Timothy of false preachers like Hymenaeus and Philetus who led many to condemnation because of their false doctrines. Let us be diligently studying God’s Word, so that we can detect false teaching, and by God’s power and grace, save many souls from fiery hell and direct them to glorious heaven to be with God forever.
V17 “And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;”
3. Be Sanctified (V19-26)
V19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
What a comfort and consolation to know that God not only knows all who truly believe and receive Him as their personal Saviour, but He also knows all their sorrows and sufferings because of their faith in Him. Indeed, it is necessary for God to sanctify and purify our faith in Him through sorrows and sufferings as well as through His holy Word, so that eventually we shall come forth as gold, and ready to be with Christ for all eternity!
V21 “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to keep studying Your Word and be sanctified by it.
2 Timothy 1: Do You Have God’s Power?
Verse of the Day: (V7) “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
1. Promise (V1-2)
V1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,”
God called Paul to be His apostle to preach on the promise of everlasting life to all who would believe and receive Jesus as their personal Saviour. Paul was careful to discern that it was God’s will for Timothy, his spiritual son, to be the preacher of God’s Word.
V2 “To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2. Power (V3-11)
V5 “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”
Though Timothy had great faith in God, as he was raised by his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, both women of God, yet Paul encouraged Timothy to claim God’s power, love and a strong mind. This was because Timothy would be facing great persecution from the unbelieving Romans who was in power at that time. In fact, at the time of writing, Paul was in prison waiting to be executed because of his faith in God.
V8 “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;”
3. Persuasion (V12-18)
V12 “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Paul was fully persuaded that God shall keep His promise that when he died, he would wake up in glorious heaven, and see the Lord Jesus Christ face to face! Before Paul was executed, he prayed to God to grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, as Onesiphorus had diligently sought him, and found him in prison, and ministered and encouraged him.
V16 “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please grant me Your power, love and a strong mind to serve You.
1 Timothy 6: Do You Love Money?
Verse of the Day: (V10) “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
1. Masters (V1-2)
V1 “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”
God loves His people to submit to Him as this demonstrates their obedience. God through Paul commanded His people to submit to their masters who paid them to do their jobs, and it was only fair for them to get their jobs done. However, how blessed it is when both the employers and the employees are God’s children, and they both faithfully and diligently work together, and praise God when the jobs are done for His glory and honour!
V2 “And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.”
2. Money (V3-12)
V6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
God loves His people to be contented as this demonstrates their thankfulness. Those who are unthankful will never be contented no matter how much they have. Indeed, godliness with contentment is great gain, because the love of money will cause many to slide down the slippery slope of discontentment, and ended up in misery, sorrows, and even in death.
V9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
3. Man (V13-21)
V15 “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;”
God loves His people to humble themselves, and know that Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and no man can come to Him, except through Jesus Christ. Indeed, we shall all be changed from mortality to immortality, and are righteous before the righteous God because Jesus Christ had died and shed His precious blood for our sins.
V16 “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to use my money for Your glory, and never to love it.
1 Timothy 5: Are You Supporting Your Preachers?
Verse of the Day: (V17) “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”
1. Widow (V1-16)
V4 “But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.”
God cares for His people, especially the widows, who lost their husbands who were sole breadwinners of the family. Apostle Paul advised his successor, Timothy, that they would only help the widows who were above 60 years of age and who truly had no one to take care of them. The younger widows could actually find work and support themselves and their own families, or they might marry and their husbands would then take care of them and their families. Indeed, let us be wise, and only help those who truly need it, as there will always be some who will abuse and take advantage of our kindness and generosity.
V9 “Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,”
2. Word (V17-23)
V18 “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”
God cares for His preachers who fully give their lives to preach His Word. God through Paul commanded Timothy and all Christians to financially support their full-time preachers, just like the ox deserve to eat the harvests of corns which they had been ploughing on the cornfields. God also warn the Christians never to falsely accuse the preachers of any wrongdoings unless there are truthful witnesses and concrete evidences.
V19 “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.”
3. Works (V24-25)
V24 “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.”
God cares for His plan and purpose, and He shall only bless and keep His people and preachers when we trust and obey Him, otherwise all our works and labour is in vain. At the end of the day, when we face our God, He shall have only be 2 responses – “Come to Me, you have done great and good works!” or “Depart from Me, I never know you!”
V25 “Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to support my preachers both in prayer and finance.
1 Timothy 4: How Is Your Conscience?
Verse of the Day: (V2) “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”
1. Conscience (V1-11)
V1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”
God through Apostle Paul warned Timothy, his successor, as well as Christians today, to be sober and vigilant because there were many false religions, cults and teachers who were led by the devil and his demons, and without any conscience led many to fiery hell with their false beliefs and teachings. The devil knows that ultimately he shall be condemned and cast into fiery hell, and this is why he shall not hesitate to lead as many as possible to fiery hell with him. Let us therefore pray that God shall grant us a good and clear conscience by preaching the gospel of Christ, that all may come to know Christ, and shall never perish in fiery hell, but have everlasting life with Him in glorious heaven.
V6 “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”
2. Charity (V12-13)
V12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
Paul reminded Timothy to be an example of love and faith so that no one would despise his youth and inexperience. Paul encouraged Timothy to continue to study and preach God’s Word so that all might come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Indeed, there is no short cut to Christian growth and maturity because it is all about “hard” work and “heart” work, and in deepening and strengthening our relationship with Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
V13 “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
3. Continue (V14-16)
V14 “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”
Paul encouraged Timothy to continue in God’s Word even though many times he felt like quitting, because God’s grace was sufficient for him. Indeed, no matter what comes our way, even death, let us continue in God’s Word, as our labour is never in vain in the Lord.
V16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to have a good and clear conscience before You.
1 Timothy 3: Are You Blameless And Bold In The Faith?
Verse of the Day: (V2) “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”
1. Blameless (V1-12)
V8 “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;”
Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit gave Timothy, his successor, the qualifications of church leaders, namely the bishop or pastor as well as the deacons. The pastor must be blameless, vigilant, sober, hospitable, of good testimony, have the gifts of preaching and teaching, and the husband of one wife, because he is the head of the church. Likewise the deacons must also be blameless and godly as they assist the pastor in the church ministry.
V10 “And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.”
2. Boldness (V13-14)
V13 “For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Another vital qualification of the leaders is great boldness in the faith. Since they are God’s leaders, they must have great boldness in the faith, not only in doing God’s works, but in sacrificing their lives for the gospel’s sake. Everything rises and falls on leadership. This was why Paul was in urgent need to meet Timothy to reiterate the importance of leadership so that the church could continue to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.
V14 “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:”
3. Believe (V15-16)
V15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
Paul reminded the church that they represent the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The truth is none other than Christ, who came in the flesh, seen of angels, died on the cruel cross, shed His blood for the sins of the world, and rose again the third day, and whosoever believes in Him shall never perish but have eternal life with Him in heaven!
V16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be blameless and have great boldness in the faith.
