Paul encourages Timothy to stand strong in the Grace of Jesus.
Real faith in Christ and stewardship in kingdom work is aways accompanied with hardships and persecutions.
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Paul strengthens the Testimony of Christ in Timothy Part 2
Today we took a few baby steps further in our study of Paul’s encourangement and instruction to Timothy regarding his assurance in the testimony of Jesus and the integrity of his own. As we closed Paul encouraged Timothy to take his part of the sufferings associated with the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit within him.
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Asaph’s testimony of the Shepherd of Israel
The prophet and musician Asaph who wrote 12 of the Psalms saw and knew Jesus. The scriptures tell us that if there was a true prophet in Israel, God had revealed Himself to them in a dream or a vision. When Asaph spoke of the “Holy One of Israel” and “Israel’s Shepherd” he was of course speaking by inspiration, but also by personal revelation. He is one of those who in the book of Hebrews saw the promise of the Father from afar. He was also among those prophets who Peter said searched for the time Messiah would come and knew beforehand of His sufferings and the glories which would follow.
Though these Psalms were written during times of great tribulation and judgment for the people of God, the prophets knew of God’s future deliverance in Messiah and comforted Israel through their words.
These words COULD and sometimes did have soon, albeit temporary fulfillment, but those of those generations would soon experience God’s silence like none of God’s people before or after. The silence would not be broken until an angel spoke to the parents of John the Baptist and those of Messiah Jesus, then to shepherds in a field when God came to His Own in the form of a baby in a feeding trough as Emmanuel – God among us. All of this was foretold by prophets like Asaph who in Psalm 80 said, “look on us with favor, and we will be saved.”
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Paul strengthens the Testimony of Christ in Timothy
Timothy seems to have been a bit of a momma’s boy. This was not bad, he was mightily used of God in Paul’s ministry. However, Timothy tended towards timidity which Paul addressed in both of his letters of encouragement to him.
Both Paul’s “type A” personality and Timothy’s timidity needed God’s grace to make them vessels of special purpose.
God does not rely upon our abilities. What He requires are hearts of submission and devotion which HE can empower.
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Praying God centered Prayers
One of the reocurring themes we see throughout the Old Testament and the Pslams in particular are the way the Isrealites prayed God centered prayers. There were of course, needs expressed and requests made, but a great deal of the time the REASON and MOTIVE behind the prayer was the character and the Great Name of God.
Phrases like, “For the sake of Your great name…” do this or that. The request was there, but the purpose of its fulfillment was God’s agenda on the earth.
Jesus also prayed this way – You kingdom come, Your will be done. Oh if we were learn to decentralize ourselves from our prayers and make God and His kingdom the central focus of our petitions, we would find ourselves in a position like the great patriarchs of old to recieve answers.
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