I would trust in god fully
II Timothy 4:16-22
I Would Trust in God Fully
Satan’s first words were “Did God really say…” Genesis 3:1. And the devil has never let up, inciting King Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:23) and Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes (I Maccabees 1:56-57) to burn God’s word. Today, Satan continues his deadly assault of the Jewish people, who are called “The People of the Book”, leading to a 900% increase in anti-Jewish incidents in the last decade. In every chapter of II Timothy, Paul expresses his devotion to the Scriptures.
Four Times You Should Trust in God Fully:
1. When You Feel Abandoned
a. “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.” II Timothy 4:16. Although Emperor Nero torched his own city, he blamed the large Jewish Christian community. When Paul, their leader, was arrested, no one came to support him.
b. Do you ever feel abandoned? The closer you are to a friend, the harder it is when they don’t show up. Paul, like Jesus, was able to forgive them and pray for them. Paul turned to Jesus who said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20.
c. The closer we get to the end of the age, the more we need to prepare ourselves for the possibility of betrayal (Matthew 24:9-13).
2. When You Feel Afraid
a. “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that thru me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” II Timothy 4:17. Paul may have been referring to Satan, the roaring lion (I Peter 5:8), or he may have been taken to the Coliseum and offered to the lions like Daniel (Daniel 6:22).
b. In Life in the Negative World, Aaron Renn describes life in the US from 1964-1994 as “The Positive World”. From 1994-2014, we experienced “The Neutral World”, and since 2014 we have been in “The Negative World” where Christian morality has been repudiated by the culture.
c. We must never be ashamed of our Lord and his Word. So don’t sit on the fence, afraid to take sides. And don’t allow fence-sitters into your inner circle of confidantes (Psalm 1:1-3). Rather stay close to Jesus!
3. When You Feel Attacked
a. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” II Timothy 4:18. Paul had endured many years of hostility (II Corinthians 11:24-28).
b. In When Culture Hates You, Natasha Crain reminds us that persecution is part of our journey with Jesus (Ephesians 6; John 15:18). With the Authority of God’s Word, hold to truth with Conviction and Tenacity (ACT)!
4. When You Feel Alone
a. “Greet Priscilla and Acquila and the household of Onesiphorus.” II Timothy 4:19. God reminded Paul of his friends, as God did with Elijah (I Kings 19:18). Some professing Christians may abandon or attack you, but there will always be a faithful remnant that remain by your side.
Paul found encouragement in 1) His Friends (15 of them named in II Timothy 4:10-21); 2) His God (II Timothy 4:22); and 3) His Triumph because of God’s grace (II Timothy 4:22; Revelation 22:21).
Never forget that you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, are on the winning team! Look for signs of God’s grace which are all around us. Praise God when precious people come to faith in Christ. Praise God for revival movements, even in the most unlikely places. And praise God when influential people boldly proclaim their faith in Jesus! Are you ready to do this?
Satan’s first words were “Did God really say…” Genesis 3:1. And the devil has never let up, inciting King Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:23) and Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes (I Maccabees 1:56-57) to burn God’s word. Today, Satan continues his deadly assault of the Jewish people, who are called “The People of the Book”, leading to a 900% increase in anti-Jewish incidents in the last decade. In every chapter of II Timothy, Paul expresses his devotion to the Scriptures.
Four Times You Should Trust in God Fully:
1. When You Feel Abandoned
a. “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.” II Timothy 4:16. Although Emperor Nero torched his own city, he blamed the large Jewish Christian community. When Paul, their leader, was arrested, no one came to support him.
b. Do you ever feel abandoned? The closer you are to a friend, the harder it is when they don’t show up. Paul, like Jesus, was able to forgive them and pray for them. Paul turned to Jesus who said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20.
c. The closer we get to the end of the age, the more we need to prepare ourselves for the possibility of betrayal (Matthew 24:9-13).
2. When You Feel Afraid
a. “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that thru me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” II Timothy 4:17. Paul may have been referring to Satan, the roaring lion (I Peter 5:8), or he may have been taken to the Coliseum and offered to the lions like Daniel (Daniel 6:22).
b. In Life in the Negative World, Aaron Renn describes life in the US from 1964-1994 as “The Positive World”. From 1994-2014, we experienced “The Neutral World”, and since 2014 we have been in “The Negative World” where Christian morality has been repudiated by the culture.
c. We must never be ashamed of our Lord and his Word. So don’t sit on the fence, afraid to take sides. And don’t allow fence-sitters into your inner circle of confidantes (Psalm 1:1-3). Rather stay close to Jesus!
3. When You Feel Attacked
a. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” II Timothy 4:18. Paul had endured many years of hostility (II Corinthians 11:24-28).
b. In When Culture Hates You, Natasha Crain reminds us that persecution is part of our journey with Jesus (Ephesians 6; John 15:18). With the Authority of God’s Word, hold to truth with Conviction and Tenacity (ACT)!
4. When You Feel Alone
a. “Greet Priscilla and Acquila and the household of Onesiphorus.” II Timothy 4:19. God reminded Paul of his friends, as God did with Elijah (I Kings 19:18). Some professing Christians may abandon or attack you, but there will always be a faithful remnant that remain by your side.
Paul found encouragement in 1) His Friends (15 of them named in II Timothy 4:10-21); 2) His God (II Timothy 4:22); and 3) His Triumph because of God’s grace (II Timothy 4:22; Revelation 22:21).
Never forget that you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, are on the winning team! Look for signs of God’s grace which are all around us. Praise God when precious people come to faith in Christ. Praise God for revival movements, even in the most unlikely places. And praise God when influential people boldly proclaim their faith in Jesus! Are you ready to do this?