Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 14

Paul tells Timothy to be a Good Soldier of Christ Jesus Part 1

2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. KJV

Paul now reminds Brother Timothy who and what he is in and for Christ Jesus our Lord and that is His soldier on the battle field fighting for the eternal souls of men and women on the earth. If Timothy and we true Christians now and of every era and generation are soldiers, then we must be in an Army led by a Commander fighting against an enemy. The Army consist of every redeemed, regenerated, and reborn sinful man, woman, and child in the world; the Commander of this Army is none other than our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ; the enemy is no one but the devil working through his invisible demons and his visible two-legged devils. Therefore, Paul wants Timothy to not be disillusioned about what it will be like for him as he navigates his way through this sojourn doing what the will of Christ Jesus is for all of His followers and that being getting the Word of God out in the world. This sounds like a simple, sound, sure, and even a safe endeavor/enterprise, but we must always and at all times know and remember that the enemy (the devil) hates the Word of God and will do anything to stop those of us who desire, who diffuse, and who distribute the truth of the Word of God all over the world, so Paul's first words to Timothy to encourage him and exhort him and even empower him are these, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1) (KJV).

There is no human strength or effort that can sustain us in this fierce spiritual battle against the devil and his troops, but there is infinite, innumerous, and influential power that comes from the thrown of grace at the Right Hand of God the Father where our Lord Jesus Christ is at this time, just as Paul wrote to the Hebrew Christians with these words, "So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help." (Hebrews 4:16) (Contemporary English Version). The little English phrase 'be strong' is translated by the Greek word endunamoō which means to empower: - enable, (increase in) strength, make strong, it literally means to keep on being empowered, keep in touch with the power. This Power is transferred from Christ Jesus our Lord to us and into us as we need to endure trials, tribulations, and tresspasses against us during our pilgrimage here on the earth, just as Paul was at the very moment of his penning this letter being chained to a Roman guard day and night 24 hours a day 7 days a week simply for getting out the Word of God, that is, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in the inner man and inner woman where this grace is placed by our Lord Jesus Christ, just as Paul testified to the Colossian Church with these words, "His glorious power will make you patient and strong enough to endure anything, and you will be truly happy." (Colossians 1:11) (Contemporary English Version).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say concerning Timothy being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus our Lord, "Here Paul encourages Timothy to constancy and perseverance in his work: Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Timothy 2:1. Observe, Those who have work to do for God must stir up themselves to do it, and strengthen themselves for it. Being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus may be understood in opposition to the weakness of grace. Where there is the truth of grace there must be a labouring after the strength of grace. As our trials increase, we have need to grow stronger and stronger in that which is good; our faith stronger, our resolution stronger, our love to God and Christ stronger. Or it may be understood in opposition to our being strong in our own strength: 'Be strong, not confiding in thy own sufficiency, but in the grace that is in Jesus Christ.' Compare Ephesians 6:10, Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. When Peter promised rather to die for Christ than to deny Him he was strong in his own strength; had he been strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, he would have kept his standing better. Observe, 1. There is grace in Christ Jesus; for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, John 1:17. There is grace enough in Him for all of us. 2. We must be strong in this grace; not in ourselves, in our own strength, or in the grace we have already received, but in the grace that is in Him, and that is the way to be strong in grace. 3. As a father exhorts his son, so does Paul exhort Timothy, with great tenderness and affection."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…