Paul and I have much in common, our lives are full of similarities. We both were stopped in our tracks by the Lord while engrossed in sin; we both were given the gift of the knowledge of Christ through a personal encounter with Him; we both were allowed to continue to possess a short coming that is a constant reminder of our deliverance from the exercise of our sinful nature, and like Paul I am an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is Christ Jesus.
And so it is only fitting, that like Paul, I greet you with grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Many of you (visitors, guest, members and others), have been given a gift or in some cases, several gifts by God. Some of us are using our gift(s) wisely to the glory of God, some of us are using our gift(s) the wrong way for something it was not intended for.
2nd Timothy 1:6 tells us, "therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you.., Paul goes on to say in that verse, "through the laying on of my hands", however, we know that gift(s) are from God even if man is the vessel of delivery.
Stir up the gift(s) of God which is in you, stir up the gift and use it to the glory of God, and be reminded as in 2nd Timothy 1:7; God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Like Paul, I am a prisoner of the Lord and not by His chains, but by His grace, not by His weight, but by His yoke which is easy and His burden which is light. {Matthew 11:29,30}.
I am not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord and neither should you be ashamed. {2nd Timothy 1:8}. Use your gift(s) to share with us in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God {2nd Timothy 1:9}. God has saved you and me and He has called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Stir up the gift of God which is in you. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus {2nd Timothy 2:1}.
Paul said to Timothy, {2nd Timothy 2:15}, Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, Paul admonishes Timothy to take heed to "rightly divide the word of truth".
Today, like my brother in Christ Paul, 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: {2nd Timothy 4:1}, preach the word {2nd Timothy 4:2}. If it is your calling, if it is your gift from the Lord, preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. Use your gift.
2nd Timothy 4:3,4 tells us, there will come a time when people will not heed sound doctrine, people will turn away from the truth, and they will be turned aside to fables. But by using your gift, you will be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, (which we all are who are in Christ) and fulfill your ministry {2nd Timothy 4:5}.
Use your gift, and like Paul, you will be able to say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith {2nd Timothy 4:7}.
Share with me Pauls expression of exuberance having used his gift; "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the Day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing {2nd Timothy 2:8}.
Use your gift today. Amen.
