2 Timothy Chapter 1 Verses 6 – 7

•I love this! Stir up the gift of God in you. Which is what? The very Spirit of power, love and soundness of mind (control)! How? Faithfulness. Walking with the Lord! That is how we stir up the gift of God within own hearts! You ever pour powdered creamer into coffee or protein into water and then forget to stir it up? You end up coughing all over it and making a mess as you breathe in that unstirred stuff!

•Man, you hear the Word of God, you listen to the Spirit of God teaching you the Word of God specifically for you in your own heart…and then we walk out unchanged? Ungrown? Unempowered? Unloving and unsound-minding! Why? You haven’t been and you got to stir it up, man! Put feet to faith! Believe God and mix the word of God with your life, man! And in that, POWER, LOVE, and a MIND FILLED WITH SELF CONTROL! Oh and what flees? Fear.

2 Timothy Chapter 1 Verses 8 – 10a

•I love this thought that God is outside of time. The fact that He does not need time, that He was before time…that He created time to give order and arrangement to our present world, and our eternal life with Him will indeed also be outside of time. Explain that one, professor! We can’t!

•I love this one scene in Risen when the Tribune is discussing with the Roman guard what happened at the tomb of Jesus Christ. He had been paid to tell a lie (Matthew 28:13) and the guard tells the lie again that he was attacked by the disciples of Jesus and the body was stolen but then the Tribune presses him and the guard breaks down and tells him the truth. That light like the sun shone all around and the ropes holding the rock against the tomb seemed to explode as the rock rolled away and then….and he stops…in tears, almost frantic, he just stops…it’s such a great scene…and he looks at the Tribune and says, “Explain it to me…!” So powerful!

•So much about the truth of God is inexplicable in human terms but entirely knowable, peace filled heart knowledge knowable through knowing Him! Explain that! For example, we are called with a holy calling not according to our works, not because somehow, someway we are good or worthy or able or anything but according to His own purpose and grace! This is so contrary to what we can understand to the point that people were then and are now perverting the message of the gospel to be works based…

•Jesus would even send a message through John to the church there in Ephesus, Timothy’s church, saying, “I know your works, your labor but nevertheless, you have left your first love! Remember from where you have fallen and repent!” Truly the result of a legal relationship with God is a loss of relationship with God! Why? Because He has called us according to His grace, according to His love, not according to our good works…it is all so confusing and out of reach until we silence ourselves…turn to the Lord and ask, “Explain it to me!”

•And I think that is the most difficult of all…admitting that you don’t have all of the answers! Humbling yourself to God because you can’t figure it out, you can’t work it out…coming to that point of silence is terribly difficult and even more, coming to God by faith, seeking Him rather than seeking self, this is the sole aspect of fallen humanity that damns billions to eternal hell. They just can’t get past themselves to be the person they ought to be when God is ready and wanting to reveal EVERYTHING to them, and to you…ready and wanting to deliver to you…eternal life…

1 Timothy Chapter 2 Verses 10b – 11

•You see Jesus has abolished death! It’s such a great word! Katargeo! He has destroyed it! Done away with it! Loosed it! I love that one! Even Paul, sitting currently under a death sentence, stands in its very face and proclaims victory because his Redeemer lives!

1 Timothy Chapter 2 Verse 12

•Notice Paul’s confidence and the source statement of that confidence. “I know what I believe, homie!” That’s not what he says and what he knows is not the source statement of his confidence. He says, “I know whom I have believed.” Totally different thing to know the things about the Lord and to know the Lord.

•Courson’s commentary on this is interesting and I find it to be intensely true. He says, “Many people know what they believe doctrinally. They know what they believe theologically. But they don’t know Jesus personally. Others may not be all that familiar with the theology, but, they know Jesus intimately….and they’re a joy to be around.” I just love that.

•Paul is in a tough spot and yet later he informs Timothy how the Romans that are there with him greet Timothy…he names them. Boy there is just joy and gentleness and love flowing through folks that know the Lord…while there are many many more that know many many things about the Lord. And the crazy thing is, most organized religion, most people of the church, look down their noses at folks that know less than them…not me man…know less, know little, know nothing…I see your works and all your labor…and all that you know…but you have left your first love and your lampstand (ministry) is long gone…

•Knowledge, labor, works, time in position, none of that impresses me or adds anything to the kingdom of God…but love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, these are the tats on the heart of one who loves Jesus, against such there is no law Paul writes to the Galatians…and so Timothy…

2 Timothy Chapter 1 Verses 13 – 14

•Walk with the Lord. Hold fast the pattern…what you have found to be true not because it is understandable but because it is accessible and witnessable once you are near to Jesus. And what is it that enables us to see the forest for the trees? Faith and love man stirred up by the presence and partnership of the Holy Spirit Himself dwelling within you…

2 Timothy Chapter 1 Verses 15 – 18

•There is no denying that Paul is in rough shape…or is he? Intriguing how difficult his outward trial is, yet inwardly he is a roaring lion, filled with strength, courage, faith, love and hope…