http://Berean Outreach Faithful to the GospelTwo thousand plus years ago the apostle Paul instructed Timothy, his son in the faith, to fortify himself with the word of God and for good reason. Consider this excerpt from that instruction.
“1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry”(2nd Timothy 1:5).
From the time of Paul’s instruction to Timothy until this very day there has been an assault against the gospel of Jesus Christ and is intensifying. Paul certainly had reason to instruct Timothy as he did, and we should, we must, personalize that instruction to ourselves.
We Christians are to “11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:11-18).
Lord help us to take to heart both instructions of Paul. His instructions to Timothy and His instructions to the Ephesian believers.