GOD Morning! October 30 / The Charge

GOD Morning!

October 30 / The Charge

The following charge is to each and every one of us!

 

2 Timothy 4 (Amplified Bible)

4 I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom:

² Herald and preach the Word!

Ever been accused of preaching? Well, according to this scripture, we are actually instructed to preach the Word! There you go! So no worries! Keep preaching! Seriously. You may snatch someone right out of hell. I realize that I sound farfetched and weird, but it’s right in the Word.

Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

³ For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

⁴ And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

⁵ As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.

Maybe you feel this sense of urgency, but don’t know what to do about it! Simply get involved. Outreach is a great ministry to fulfill that urgency to preach.  

⁶ For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit’s] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free.

Paul knew what was ahead for him, and he was ready! I struggle with fear of the unknown. I want to have Paul’s view of embracing death for the cause of Christ.

“I will soon go free!” Yesssss!

⁷ I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

⁸ [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).

I long to wear that “victor’s crown of righteousness!”

I “yearn for His appearing!”

¹⁰ For Demas has deserted me for love of this present world and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens [has gone] to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me great wrongs. The Lord will pay him back for his actions.

¹⁵ Beware of him yourself, for he opposed and resisted our message very strongly and exceedingly.

¹⁶ At my first trial no one acted in my defense [as my advocate] or took my part or [even] stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them!

Whaaaaa???? No one???

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion.

Friends and fellow laborers are gonna leave me! There will be lonely times in which I will be fighting by myself. I’m not going to waste time being hurt and shocked when folks leave me alone in the battle. Because my confidence is in the Lord. The Lord will stand by me! He will never leave me to fight alone!

¹⁸ [And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver and draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve and bring me safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

“Dear Jesus, Your word states that You will preserve me and bring me Home safe! I must continue to stay in the fight! Wait a minute! There’s one small tip I must remember. YOU are the One fighting! I am simply opening up my mouth and sharing. Some may call it preaching. But all I’m really doing is sharing what I find in Your word. With urgency. Please give me the wisdom and the courage to open my mouth when it’s necessary and to keep silent when silence is needed. And thank You for this urgency I feel! Thank You for the privilege You have given me to share Your gospel! What an HONOR it is o be Your hands and feet. Thine is the Glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”