Bible Study - Spiritual Growth - Grow - September 11, 2011

Bible Study – Spiritual Growth – Grow – September 11, 2011 (Revised)

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitle “Balanced Spiritual Growth.”

Our scripture is 2 Timothy 3.

Second Timothy was written by the Apostle Paul from prison to Timothy who was in Ephesus. Paul had been arrested and placed under house arrest about a year or so earlier. He was released and then arrested a second time. This time he was placed in prison and was awaiting execution by orders from Emperor Nero. Second Timothy was written about 66-67 A.D.

Paul knew his time was drawing close, unless the LORD came to his rescue. He was passing the Spiritual baton to Timothy. Paul looked upon Timothy as his son because he had led him to faith in CHRIST and he was preparing him for the days ahead when he would be gone. Timothy was in Ephesus, which was a cosmopolitan city but was also a city of spiritual corruption.

Paul knew that Christians faced false teachers and that troubling times already existed and could get worse. Paul was a stalwart for Christianity. Was he contemplating that once he was executed that all Christians would face terrible persecution? Paul was an icon and if his CHRIST could not save him, then all Christians would be vulnerable to attack by non-Christians. Paul had already been delivered from bad situations, even death, by the power of GOD. But unless GOD delivered him again, he faced death. Even the faith of those in the Christian community could be shaken when Paul was executed. It would certainly give the false teachers something negative to say about Christianity and the power of GOD.
Timothy likely had to deal with the fact that his mentor, Paul, was facing death. When it happened, he too would have to deal with his death and the whys that can rush in when a loved one dies. He may have thought GOD would come to Paul’s rescue at the last minute.

We, as humans, try to make super humans out of Spiritual leaders. JESUS’ disciples had to deal with HIS crucifixion. Their despair was turned to joy when GOD resurrected HIM from the dead.

Paul was preparing Timothy for the rocky Spiritual road ahead.

So what does this have to do with Spiritual growth? Paul mentored Timothy. Paul was an example to Timothy of what it meant to walk with CHRIST through the good times and the bad. Paul encouraged Timothy to study the scriptures to know the truth so that he would not be led astray by false teachings, so he could teach and preach truth and remain strong in the LORD.

Second Timothy records the last words Paul had for Timothy before he departed this earth. Likely, after Paul’s death, Timothy read and reread this letter many times to extract every morsel he could from Paul’s letter to him.

Difficult times often produce Spiritual growth and maturity. It is vital to read and study GOD’S Word, especially during difficult times. Often, during these times GOD will give you a special verse of scripture which will sustain you.

Fellow Christian teachers, leaders and friends can inspire us to walk the talk but we must be careful that we do not elevate him/her to deity status. A Christian’s goal is to be made in the image of CHRIST through the process of sanctification – Bible study, application, confession, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide him/her. Build your relationship with CHRIST by abiding in HIM. HE is the vine and Christians are the branches. It is HIS power and Spiritual nutrients flowing from HIM to us, as we obediently serve HIM, which results in Spiritual growth, maturity and good fruit.

However, there are times when the branches need to be pruned in order to produce more fruit. Pruning is no fun but necessary.

Do you study the Bible? Is it exciting? Do you study it to gain knowledge or for it to transform your life? Do you mentor younger Christians? If not, why not? Most of us who have journeyed with CHRIST have a wealth of Spiritual experience that would benefit younger Christians. Paul invested his life in many but especially in Timothy.

Let’s read 2 Timothy 3:1-9: (Standing Against False Teaching)
Difficult Times Ahead
1 But know this: difficult times will come in the last days. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the form of religion but denying its power. Avoid these people! 6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions, 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind, worthless in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs[1] was also.

The Apostle Paul was telling Timothy to pay special attention to what he was writing. Bad days are coming in these last days. What last days? Paul, the other apostles and many Christians were looking for the immediate return of CHRIST. The last days began the day CHRIST ascended into heaven. We are in the last days before CHRIST’S return to earth the second time. These are the days of grace therefore Christians are to obediently work as our LORD directs because the harvest is bountiful.

Paul gives a list of nineteen (19) societal conditions which mark these last days. We can look at our society today and see the same conditions. No one knows the moment that CHRIST will return, not even the CHRIST, only GOD. Paul’s message to Christians then and to Christians today was “Be Prepared.”

In verse 5, Paul wrote of people who wanted to appear religious by holding to the form of religion but denied the power of GOD. There was no evidence in their lives of good fruit or that GOD was real in their lives. Are we playing church today? We attend church; we hear a message and often say it was wonderful. The question is, “Do we put into action what GOD, through the Holy Spirit, leads us to do?” Are we hearers of the Word and not doers of the Word?

Paul was addressing false teachers who would beguile their way into the lives of new, immature Christians. This was especially true of female Christians. Females had been kept from worship by the Jewish religion. Pagan religions used and abused them. Women were hungry for truth and these false teachers took full advantage of them. Therefore, they never received the real truth. These false teachers were deceivers and workers of evil, just as two (2) of Pharaoh’s magicians, Jannes (JAN eez) and Jambrez (JAM breez). They tried to deceive by attempting to duplicate the miracles of GOD when Moses asked Pharaoh to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

Paul was telling Timothy not to fret over these false teachers. They can only fool those searching for truth for so long because their lack of good fruit both in their lives and the lives of those they teach, will expose them.

Let’s read 2 Timothy 3:10-13: (Follow Good Examples)
The Sacred Scriptures
10 But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. 12 In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 Evil people and imposters will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Paul reminds Timothy that he, Timothy, had been privy to Paul’s walk with CHRIST. He had observed the good times and the bad times in his journey. He knew what Paul taught and how he lived on a daily basis. He also knew how he faced opposition in Antioch, Iconium and especially Lystra.

Lystra was Timothy’s home town. Paul led Timothy to CHRIST. It was in Lystra where Paul was stoned and left for dead. (This is where many Bible scholars believe that Paul actually died and went to, what he called the third heaven as stated in 2 Corinthians 12:2 - 2 I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven 14 years ago. Whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don’t know; God knows.)

Paul was telling Timothy, when you teach and preach truth, you will face persecution. Persecution comes with the job, so do not be discouraged when it comes your way. He encouraged Timothy to keep the purpose of his calling, the fundamentals of his faith in CHRIST, exercise patience and love just as he saw in Paul, especially during difficult times.

When Paul referred to “patience” he was not referring to the act of waiting but to one’s attitude while waiting. Patience, love and endurance go hand in hand when serving the LORD. When Christians show these attributes – Patience, Love and Endurance – it reveals that their trust is in GOD. Paul reminded Timothy that the LORD rescued him from all situations. He may have been battered and bruised but rescued.

It seems to me that there was an element of hope in Paul’s statement that GOD could come to his aid even as he faced death. But whether or not he was rescued, he had fought the good fight and was pressing toward the finish line. He knew what awaited him because he had been to the third heaven – the first heaven is where the birds and clouds are, the second heaven is where the sun, moon, planets and galaxies are and the third heaven is where GOD is.

Paul told Timothy that false teachers and teachings would grow worse. These false teachers not only deceived others but they deceived themselves such that they cannot discern truth. This is the danger in sitting under false teachers. It is like the frog in the water. Put a frog in hot water and it will jump out but place the frog in cold water and gradually turn up the heat and the frog will remain and be cooked.

How can a Christian discern false teachers and teachings? Having the gift of discernment is one way. Knowing the Bible equips you to know truth. Ask GOD to reveal truth to you and to help you discern HIS Word. Often, when you hear a false teaching Spiritual alarms go off and you think something is just not right. That is the Holy Spirit warning you, so pay attention and check out what has been said against what the Bible has to say about it. Beware of those who teach a feel good Christianity. This is not to say Christians are to go around with long faces. Christians experience the joy of abiding in CHRIST. They are on a firm foundation of salvation through CHRIST. They build upon the foundation of CHRIST but are aware that they will face difficult times. They have the assurance that in good times or bad CHRIST is right there with them through thick and thin.

Let’s read 2 Timothy 3:14-17: (Study Scripture)
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing those from whom you learned, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God[2] and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Paul had told Timothy about false teachers and he had to make sure that he did not compromise his faith. He was to focus upon the fundamentals of his faith in CHRIST as confirmed in the scripture and lived by those involved in his life. He was to keep his eyes focused upon the truth and not to allow these false teachings to cause him to question his own faith in CHRIST.

Paul told him that he knew that both his mother and grandmother had taught him the scripture as a child. He was to stay focused on the scripture because the scripture had been and would continue to be his source of Spiritual reality and comfort during troubling times.

In essence, Paul was telling Timothy, you know that the scripture revealed CHRIST from Genesis to Malachi and all prophecy concerning CHRIST was fulfilled. You can trust and rely upon the scripture. Plus you know my witness and the witness of the other apostles how CHRIST fulfilled the scripture. Therefore, scripture will be your anchor, so do not neglect the study of scripture because all scripture is inspired by GOD and good/profitable for:

- For teaching – Scripture has been proven to be GOD’S Word because it is accurate, therefore it is worthy of being taught and used as a guide to live by. It is worthy for instruction and leads to salvation through CHRIST. It reveals the path Christians need to follow.

- For rebuking – Because it is truth it convicts of sin or wrong doing. It brings to light the areas where we miss the mark in living for GOD and in relationship with others. It identifies problems that need attention as the Christian journeys down the path of life.

- For correcting – Scripture reveals our sin and how to get back into right standing with GOD through confession, repentance and forgiveness. It shows the Christian where he got off the path and how to get back on the path.

- For training in righteousness – The scripture shines GOD’S light into our lives and helps us to maintain our relationship with GOD. It shows the Christian how to stay of the path and obedient serve GOD.

- So that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The word “complete” means just that, lacking nothing, fully equipped to obediently serve GOD as led by the Holy Spirit.

Study of the Bible is a vital part of Spiritual growth. Study is one thing but it is vital to put into action what we study, as led by the Holy Spirit.

I repeat the questions I posed earlier. Is reading and studying the Bible mundane or exciting? Do you read it to check it off that you have read it or do you read it so that it will transform your life and for you to grow Spiritually? The purpose of Bible study is to transform our lives not just to increase our knowledge.

I do not like to read a book twice or see most movies twice. I know years ago after I committed my life to CHRIST, I read the Bible and thought well that is that. So I read other Christian books. The thought crossed my mind to read the Bible again. So I began reading some of the scripture I had read but very quickly, this thought crossed my mind, “Gee, I know I read this before but I did not see what I am seeing now.” I have found that reading and studying GOD’S Word is exciting and that it is truly the living Word of GOD because it is as relevant today as the day it was written.

Christians today face persecution and false teachers. It will likely get worse. Having the scripture hidden in our hearts will sustain us when we face difficult times and will be valuable to us in discerning truth from error. Blatant error is obvious but subtle error can creep into our lives, if we are not careful. Know the truth because the truth will set you free.

Growing Spiritually is a natural part of living for CHRIST. Focus on getting to know HIM by studying the Bible, prayer and obediently serving HIM. This builds our
relationship with HIM and Spiritual growth is a natural result. Blessings.

- Face false teaching, exercise discernment, live by GOD’S standard. (Stand Against False Teaching)

- Learn from fellow Christians who have gone through difficult times. (Follow Good Examples)

- Expect difficult times, learn from them and look upon them as opportunities for Spiritual growth.

- Study the Bible to transform your life and to gain knowledge to know GOD, through your relationship with CHRIST. (Study Scripture)


This is a revision of the study previously posted. We need to pray for our nation and the many men and women in uniform - Military, firefighters, police, EMS and so many more that faithfully serve and risk their lives. May GOD continue to Bless America becuase those who know HIM faithfully and obediently serve HIM.