A CALL to ENDURE: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. I was reading this passage this morning and I noticed the word endure mentioned twice. The first is directed toward those who are in the congregation of a church. It alludes to the idea that the true believer must learn to endure sound preaching, doctrine and teaching from the Word of God. It will be very tempting for people to go to churches where there will be messages geared toward their needs, wants, and desires. The word endure in this sentence is anechomai which means, to be patient with, put up with, bear with. The second use of the word endure is directed to the pastor (Timothy). Paul instructs him to endure suffering. The word endure in this sentence is kakopatheo which means to suffer distress, withstand trouble, persist in hardship. Whether you are a pastor or a parishioner, we are all called to persist, to endure, for the sake of the Gospel and the integrity of Gods Word. May we not become like Demas who in love with this present world deserted the Gospel ministry. Instead, may we all like Paul be able to come to the end of our lives and say... I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 17:22:18 +0000
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