2 Timothy Series - The Coming Kingdom and The Days of Christ’s Glorious Presence

 

The Coming Kingdom and The Days of Christ’s Glorious Presence

2 Tim. 4:1-5

There has been much said, both true and false, about the holy glorious presence of Lord God and of His Son, Jesus Christ in our days. If we listen and align our thoughts, lives, and experiences with the truth of the Word of God, then the awesomeness of God’s glory, His presence, will be evidenced by His Holy Spirit presence. Not in a manufactured and manipulated manner, but in peace, humility, and in yielding to His awesome powerful presence as we hear His voice and kneel, bow, or even prostrate ourselves in His holiness and in fear in His majestic light. For this is what the Holy Word of God says of those who have experienced the holy presence of our almighty God and Lord. (Ps. 27:1; 119:130; 1 Jn. 1:5-9)

So, as we begin with the last chapter of the last epistle written from Paul to Timothy, let’s ask God to speak to us through the written Word, the logos. Let’s read the first portion of the text, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

It was said of Jesus, he came as a king of the Jews (Matt. 2:2; John 1:49, 19:19,21), yet they rejected him and his coming at this time as the Father foreknew. Paul understood from the scriptures that there are two kingdoms in which God the Father and Jesus the Son will reign (Deut. 10:14;Psalms 115:16; Dan. 2:44). The first, the ethereal eternal Kingdom of Heaven, also called the Kingdom of God in the highest heavens, the abode and throne of God. The second, the terrestrial, that which the disciples and believers questioned Jesus of its coming, for it will be on earth where Jesus will reign on earth from Jerusalem. The first advent of Christ coming was rejected by the Jewish people, and now awaits the second advent, the second coming of Christ at which time they will receive Him and proclaim him King “And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.” (Zech. 14:9), “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ (Ps.118:26) And Jesus will then reign from His temple in Jerusalem. (Rev. 20)

Paul once more exhorts Timothy on the coming of the Kingdom of God and the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. For all will face the presence of our Lord God, some will face him as his children, “The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children... Dear friends, now we are children of God, and we have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him, because we will see him as he really is. Christ is pure, and all who have this hope in Christ keep themselves pure like Christ.” (1 John 3:1-3) Paul also mentions the judgment of God as did the other apostles, for the children of God it will be a time of rejoicing in rapturous joy as we see the One in whom we love and who has loved us with an everlasting love. For those who aren’t his children, it will be a revelation of the everlasting torment of Hell and the eternal absence of God’s grace and merciful presence. For they will be judged by the Word of God they have had before them. “If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” (John 12:47-48)

Paul again came to the exhortation of the charge of serving Jesus Christ. Timothy's primary resource for preaching and knowing God was the Word of God, the Holy Scripture, and the Holy Spirit. For it was the Holy Spirit who would speak the Word through him and to him. (John 14:26; 16:13) Timothy was to be prepared in the same manner by knowing the Word, but also by yielding to the voice of the Holy Spirit who spoke the words of Jesus. He could be asked or called at any time to give an account for the truth, the Hope he had in Christ Jesus. “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…” (1 Pet. 3:15) 

Timothy had the scriptures to be used for his own teaching and the correction of errors in the teachings of others, in the rebuking of those who will not listen because of rebellion or hardness of heart, and for encouragement, as well as instruction in patience. “Be alert. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong. Do everything in love.” “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”(1 Cor. 16:13-14 ;Rom. 15:13)

Application - I have noticed the lack of the knowledge of God’s Word and the proclamation of building the kingdom of God here on earth so that Jesus can come and reign on the internet and in many churches. Neither will advance the gospel in the power of our Lord. Jesus’ prayer in John seventeen, verse three was that we know the Father and the Son, for this defined eternal life, “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” and “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” (Col.1:9-11)

We are not here to build a kingdom for Jesus, but to live in the eternal kingdom’s light and power, proclaiming the Gospel of salvation until His coming. 

We are to mature in His Word and grow in grace and power. “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (2 Pet. 3:17-18; Col. 1:11-13)

Paul again admonishes Timothy on the approaching darkness and evil against the Truth of God’s Word. Let’s read the last portion of the text,  “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 myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

Paul had plenty of experience from persecution in standing against the false teaching of God’s Word and its distortion by Satan’s servants. For many had spoken against him and against the Truth of the Gospel, to the point false Gospels had arisen amongst the churches from false teachers and false prophets and false apostles. (Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Thes. 2:2,9-10; Tit. 1:10-11; 1 Tim. 6:20-21; 2 Cor. 11:3-4) 

Paul warns Timothy again of those who crave power and a platform to propagate unsound doctrines created by men and demons. These false teachers and prophets would captivate weak and young believers with smooth prophecies and teaching of myths that draws them with itching ears to unsound doctrines. These doctrines were created to enthrall the desires of the flesh or imagination, promising prosperity and peace, and straying away from the truth of God and the trials, suffering and persecution that a true believer will experience. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:12-13)

Timothy again was called upon by Paul to do the work of God to which he was called. “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,  which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever.

Amen…Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.” (1 Tim. 6:11-16,20-21)

Application - A charge is very much an order from a superior. We likewise have been given a charge to live according to the Word of God (Rom. 15:4), to walk in the light of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:115-16; Ga. 5:25), and believe in the Truth of God’s Word for wisdom, understanding, discernment, and instruction in a life totally given and yielded to our Saviour, Lord, and God (James 3:13-18; Rom. 12:2; Matt. 7:24; Phil. 1:9-10).

We will not be able to remove the tares around us in the field of life, but we can stand as a tall stock, bearing good kernels, deeply rooted in good soil. We can only do this by living in the Truth and Light of God’s Word, filled and yielded to the Holy Spirit, and filled with the grace and love of Christ for one another and for our Lord and Savior, and the Father of love and life. 

They say that the best way to know a counterfeit is to know the real. Let us be people of sound doctrine, not looking for the spectacular or for the smooth teaching of pleasure that so deceive people into seeking after those who will scratch their itching  ears the same worldly desires that Satan used against Jesus. For we are not of the world and we should not seek what the world desires. “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:16-17)

Again God has given the eternal Truth of His Word so that we can know him, and live accordingly and victoriously in it. Yes, there will be hardships and persecution from the world and the enemy of God, but we are already more than conquerors in Christ Jesus who has overcome the world (Rom. 8:31-39; John 16:33), so that through Him we will live abundantly in the glorious riches that come to us from the eternal kingdom of God. (Eph. 3:14-21) Amen!!

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today. Thank you http://uss-warfare3.web node.com