Gtcotr/ss101126
While people are looking for a move of God, God is looking for a move of people.
God moves through people, to people.
In about the year AD65, the Apostle Paul had almost completed his earthly life and ministry. He was in prison in Rome for his last time. Before being executed for preaching the Gospel, Paul sat to write an encouraging letter to his spiritual son, Timothy (2 Timothy 4:6-8). I believe Paul’s second letter to Timothy is the last word we have from this great man of faith.
At that time, Timothy was the pastor of the Church in Ephesus. Just like Jesus, Paul also longed for the kingdom message and mission to continue after his death. He had given his life for the Gospel and hoped the Church would continue to grow and continue to go into all the world (Matthew 28).
From his prison, perhaps now in chains and ready to die, Paul writes:
2 Timothy 2 (NKJV)
1 ¶ You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Paul encouraged Timothy, and thereby the scriptures encourage us to:
Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Grace is unmerited/underserved/unearned opportunity and ability.
You have been graced by God … be strong in that grace.
Reproduce yourself.
Make disciples of the faithful
Not the able …
God can make the faithful able … give them grace.
Endure hardships.
Don’t wimp out of quit because life gets hard.
Expect some difficult times and don’t let them discourage you.
Play according to the rules.
The rules are simple:
Take what you have …
Start where you are …
Do the best you can.
The key thought Paul expresses in this passage is found in verse 2.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Faithful means to be loyal and available, trusted and present.
God can give a person every ability except availability.
Be available …
God gives us the ability to serve Him ...
Availability is what we give back to God.
Paul’s greatest ability was his continued availability to go where God sent and do what God needed.
It’s the same today … God moves through people, to people - and your greatest ability will continue to be your availability.
