2 Timothy 2:1-3

2 Timothy 2:1-3

2:1 So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2:2 And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well. 2:3 Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Notes:

1. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ - Be strong in grace, what does that mean? What is Grace then? Is it just forgiveness? No, Grace is so much more, otherwise Paul would be saying be strong in the forgiveness you’ve received. That doesn’t make much sense. No, grace is much more than forgiveness. Grace is power, grace is strength, grace is the life in the Spirit. We always have the Spirit with us, but do we always live by the Spirit? No. That is what Paul is urging Timothy to do here, be strong in the grace that Christ has given him. To, by the Spirit of God who lives in him, live a holy life, life a life set apart, to love fully and unconditionally, to trust God, to live not by his own strength, but by God’s strength and power inside of him. To persevere, because God is his strength.

2. Entrust... to other faithful people who will competently teach others. Paul is telling Timothy to raise up other leaders, to discern faithful people to whom he can entrust the Gospel truth, and raise them up to lead others. As a leader, you should always be looking for other leaders (not necessarily so named yet) that you can raise up and train in the truth. People who love the lord, and are faithful in their walk, who can be trusted to share the gospel responsibly. As Christians and leaders, we are to perpetuate ourselves. To be continually growing and strengthening the body of Christ.

3. Take your share of the suffering. When the trials and persecutions come, realize that they are being allowed into your life by God. Walk through them boldly and with the strength that the Holy Spirit provides.


Study Prayer:

Lord, Thank you for this day, thank you for your grace and love and your kindness towards me. I pray that you would remind me of the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Remind me of the power that I have available to me in your spirit. Help me to live in your spirit, to listen and obey, to allow him to move through me and work in me. FIll me anew with your spirit lord, and accomplish your work in me. I pray that your life and light would shine boldly through me, and that it would be evident to ALL that I come into contact with that YOU are my God, and that you live inside of me and work in me and through me. Please accomplish this by the power of your Spirit, Lord. Help me to be strong in the grace that is in Christ. Lord, I pray that you would make me a leader and a teacher. Help me to entrust the gifts you’ve given me to others who will be faithful in serving and following you lord. I pray that you would put people on my heart whom I can raise up and lift up and encourage in their walks with you. I pray also that with that, you would help me to be bolder in sharing my faith, both with non-believers, and with believers. Please help me to be bold about who I am and where you’ve brought me, and what you’ve taught me, not in a prideful sense, but in a sense that I would desire to share and encourage and grow. Let me use the wisdom you’ve given me to encourage others, and not just hold it to myself. Lord, I have not experienced much, if any, suffering for you. I pray that when it comes, that I would take it as your servant, and by your Spirit be bold and courageous and strong. In Jesus’ name, Amen.