1-4 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
(After I was born again in 1975, I went through months of very extensive "basic" training. I was called by God and set in the body of Christ to care for the church and God trained me for the job HE had assigned to me. For several months, I was shown to read Bible. To abstain from secular things such as plays, movies, TV, football. I just immersed myself in Bible daily. At that time Jimmy Carter was running for President of United State. After he had been elected, I heard someone mention his name, Jimmy Carter. This was the first time I had heard that name. I said, "Who is Jimmy Carter?" That is how separated I was over a period of time. This is what God did with me to prepare me for the work to which I was called in the church.)
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II Timothy 2:7 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
(We must play by the rules of God as set forth in Bible. We must observe the doctrines of Christ according to Bible. If we cast aside scripture we have nothing. Scripture is our foundation upon which we must build our lives... Today's church groups have cast aside many scriptures concerning divorce/remarriage, concerning men marrying divorced women, often calling sins such as drunkenness a disease when it is a sin of the flesh according to Bible, and some churches even accept homosexuals & lesbians. This is the end time apostasy spoken of by the apostle Paul in II Thessalonians 2, the church falling away from scripture. We must not do this nor be a part of this.)
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II Timothy 2:8-9 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
(You cannot speak about faith in God until you partake of faith in God. So we who labor in Christ must first partake of Christ. Also we first fellowship with God, then with others. Unless we are first connected with God HIMSELF, we cannot connect with others who are of the Spirit of God.)
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
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8-10 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
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11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with HIM, we shall also live with HIM:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with HIM: if we deny HIM, HE also will deny us:
If we believe not, yet HE abideth faithful: HE cannot deny HIMSELF.
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II Timothy 2:14-15 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
(The Holy Spirit in us shows us truth about scripture and truth about doctrine. We may hear an incorrect doctrine but if we have the Holy Spirit HE will set us straight by bringing to our mind correct teaching and correct scripture, giving us truth.)
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II Timothy 2:16-17 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
(Incorrect doctrine or wrong statements will lodge in you and eat away at you, destroying you if you allow this. Such is like a cancer. When someone says something that is incorrect, we must take it to God in prayer. I once heard of a statement made by a man concerning Bible. He said it was so "legalistic". I said to God, "This really troubles me." A few hours later, I was reminded of something that completely uprooted the evil spoken against the Bible. The Holy Spirit reminded me of this: Mt. 7:13-14 Jesus said: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. When I heard this, my sorrow turned to joy. The evil was rooted out of my heart by the truth. I saw that the Bible is freedom from sin. The man who called the Bible legalistic wanted freedom to sin, thus his attack against Bible which is freedom from sin. I rejoiced in Bible and in this truth from Holy Spirit. So know for sure, evil words against Bible doctrine will eat as a cancer and like a cancer you must get God to cut them out of your heart by HIS Spirit so take the trouble you've heard to God in prayer and pay attention to that given you by the Holy Spirit.)
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II Timothy 2:18-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
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22-26 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
(It is very difficult to follow after godly things when you associate with people who have mixed hearts.)
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
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