“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus…I GIVE YOU THIS 1CHARGE: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:1-2) 1diamarturomai: to cause something to be believed.
We have a very challenging task ahead of us as we prepare for the Lords return because people no longer want to put up with “sound doctrine” Jesus says: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but MY WORDS WILL NEVER PASS AWAY.” (Matt. 24:35)
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and TURN ASIDE TO 2MYTHS.” (2 Tim. 4:3-4) 2Muthos: a fiction or fable.
Only 7% of millennials believe that the Bible is the most reliable source of absolute truth. 13% believe that commitment and obedience to God is something important. These will be our teachers, police officers, religious leaders…
“Be merciful to those who doubt; SAVE OTHERS BY SNATCHING THEM FROM THE FIRE; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude 1:22-23)
THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL EMPOWER US TO DO THE WORK OF THE LORD…
-Bill Stockham