Meditations on 2 Timothy 1:1

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus."

What a great verse to think about. As always when doing a Bible Study, one should observe the text. Notice right away that the verse has 4 sections: An...by...according to...that. The first section is fairly easy to observe. Christ Jesus describes the word apostle by narrowing down to whose apostle. The Greek text is without a definite article before apostle. Which could mean either "an" or "the" apostle. The Bible shows that Paul was not the only apostle of Jesus so "an" is a better fit.

The next section starts with "by." The word "by" is a representation of dia in the Greek. The main action of the conjunction is through. It was through God's will that Paul would become an apostle. The New Living Translation has a better phrase to understand this. It says, "chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus." Also "will" is defined as God's will which sets it apart from Paul's will. This shows that God had ordained Paul for apostleship before it happened because was part of His plan.

The 3rd section talks about the promise. The promise is more defined by “the life.” Paul’s calling to an apostle was to fulfill the promise by proclaiming it. This is found in the conjunction “according to.” Commentartors mention that according to should be viewed as the purpose of Paul’s ministry. So Paul’s purpose is to fulfill or proclaim the promise of life. In other words, Paul is telling Timothy that God selected Paul to proclaim the promise of life. The promise of life is not this present life by the life that God gives in eternity, which proclaimed through the gospel. Paul’s whole ministry was to proclaim the gospel to lost souls. Giving the lost souls an opportunity to be saved by God to have life for eternity. This life was lived out by Paul when Luke describes the travel of Paul through Acts.

The 4th section is about where that promise of the life is. The verse tells us that the promise of life is in Christ Jesus. The promise of the life is given to those who have repented and trusted in Christ. The promise of the life is heard through the gospel which is centered around the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. That is why the promise is in Christ. It was Christ that defeated death so those who believe will have eternal life.

I know that I could go deeper and I might edit and go but here is the point. Paul’s life as a Christian was ordain by God for the furthering of the gospel. He did not choose to be a apostle but God selected him. The same is true for us today. God select us for our ministry to further the gospel of Christ by His will. This does not mean to be an apostle but through other gifts that He gives. Our task though is to become obedient to the call of being faithful witnesses. This is done by denying our own will and accepting God’s plan.

An example in my life of this is street witnessing. God has given me an able to teach and overcome a fear of man (sometimes) to proclaim Christ on the street. I do not like talking to strangers but for some reason God has given me the gift When I do witness to people, I do not stumble when preaching the gospel and I am able to defend to gospel. This is totally based on God’s grace.

To Him to be Glory:

Solus Christus!

Praying to God

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." John 15:7

A quick study of this passage might help us to understand this as it caught my attention. I have heard that all we need to do is pray about it and God will answer our prayers. This verse seems to says otherwise. Lets begin at the word abide. It is the Greek word menō, it means to remain or abide in reference to a place, a time, or a condition. In this case, it is used in reference of a place. This place is Jesus as describe by the speaker which is Christ. Abide is also used to describe where Jesus' words in us. Again, it is reference to a place by the in and the subject is the Disciples.

Lets go back to the beginning of the verse and talk about the word "if." This verse is an if/then conditional statement. The condition is the abiding in Christ and Christ's words abiding in us. Then part is that he will do what ever we asked.

Let looks at the verse as a whole in context. Jesus has just describe that the Disciples are a branch on the vine and Jesus is that vine. Everyone that is not attached to the vine will parish but those who remain will bear much. Verse 8 also gives us clarification of why God will answer our prayers. God answers our prayers for His glory.

So when Jesus tells His Disciples that He will do anything they ask, it is because they are remaining in His teaching. The Disciples desires are to be the same desires of Jesus. John would later clarify in 1 John 5:14, saying "(a)nd this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (emphasis is mine) So our prayers should not be "Jesus, I need an A on this test." Instead, it should be something that He has or ordained according to His plan a purpose. Our prayers should be to help the advancement of the Gospel by praying to God that He will do something to glorify His name and not ours. We need to be reading His words, as written in the Bible, to understand His desires and purpose so that he can rightly pray so that God is glorified by His works.

I Sometimes Wonder if I am Called to be Single

This thought just drop into my head while at work today. I had a guy ask me if I had a girlfriend, obvious answer was no. (I guess the answer is obvious if you know me but my lack of social skills proves very well that answer.) He asked me if I like girls. That the question if I am a homosexual or not. I answered yes but I have not desire at this time for a wife. That had me thinking while chilaxing in the pool here in the waterless beach. I am called to remain single or will I be someone who marries late. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul gives us his take on the issue. If you desire to be married, then get married but you have not the desire, then remain single as I am single ( a Mike paraphrase). I often think about it would be nice to have a wife but that it is not something I desire. I guess there are times that I feel the desire more, but that is usually when I am around people that seem to be happy with others, i.e. weddings and family gatherings. I am sure that something might happen but that is not my desire but it does get me thinking. If I do not get married, that throws me out of any pastoral leadership roles according to scripture. That might even include leading a college ministry. I am just really confessed about what I need to be working towards or where is God leading me. That is probably sin in my life that I need to mortify. I guess that makes me lean more on God to show me the little but of path that He allows me to see. I actually feel like I need to just repent til the cows come home.

I guess pray is in need for this. I guess prayer to mortify the sin in my life and to seek God's counsel in the Bible. I do know that God wants me to be obedient to His word, and that is where I will start.

This is not how the post was going to go but this is where God lead it.

It is Febuary and I'm stressed out.

I have successfully stressed myself out once again. I have a speech due in 22 days, a 300 page book due in 25 days, plus all of the other home work I have.

But today is a special day for you because I am going to post a article I posted on Ambassador Alliance. It is a site for street witnessers to get together to share witnessing encounters and also ask questions to get advice on dealing with different groups. It is also for people you have attended the Ambassador Training in LA with Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, and other members of Living Waters. It is a weekend in which you street witnessness, open-air preach, stop light preach, and other ways to share the gospel. This article is about my trip to the mall here in Lynchburg, VA. Enjoy.

Today, I went again to the mall. I was to meet one of my classmates. She did not show up but it was my fault for getting info. I might just have to make cards to hand out. Ed, the guy who normally goes with me, could not come because his street is icy and it started to snow again here in Lynchburg, VA after dumping a foot of snow this past weekend. As I was waiting for my classmate and watching for the security, I had get a couple of opportunity to witness to some guys. I figured the best way to have someone found me was to witnesses with some people since that is why I was there. The first person I talked to was Kevin. He did not know at first if he would go to heaven or hell but after asking the question again, he decided he was good enough to go to Heaven. He was joking around a little and laughing so I asked what he knew about hell. He realized that I was serious about him and did not want him to die and go to hell. He had to get to work so I let him go. The next person was Zack, I think, I am bad with names. He accepted Jesus when he was 4 but, what seems like lot Christians I witness to, he could not tell me the Gospel. I went through the good person test and shared the good news that Christ took our punishment so he did do not have to. I asked if he had every repent and trust. His answered surprise me a little, because he said no. I urge him to repent and trust in Christ because you do not know when you will die. After Zack, I saw a group of guys, there was 4 of them. I handed them million dollars and one a ticket to heaven. One actually tore it but it took him a lot of strength. All 4 were going to heaven because they accepted Jesus; I asked them to tell me the Gospel with 3 mins to live. They jokingly said that it is too late to be asking that. I went through the Gospel with them and express that they need to share the law to show the person they are sinners. I ended this conversation telling them that they to repent and trust in Christ. As I was talking these young men, I noticed the security guard walking with a sheriff, so I kinda left so I was not thrown out. I wanted to witness more but without getting in trouble. It was good day to preach the Gospel and I just pray that these people turn to Christ.