20 My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.

 

Proverbs 6:20-21 ESV

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

 

Galatians 5:24-25 ESV

That’s the message that Paul wants to get across to 2 Timothy in v. 21, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

If you want to know how genuine is you’re naming of the Lord as your Savior then look at how you deal with sin. That’s what Paul is saying. Not only that a useful servant is made useful by cleansing himself from sin, but the way that usefulness is maintained it is by a consistent commitment to fleeing from sin and following after righteousness.

This Twelfth installment in Pastor Diceanu’s series, “Passing on the Truth,” on 2 Timothy, entitled “The People That God Uses” Part 2 (2 Timothy 2:20-26),” is now available for download.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

Not only that the acceptance of our work for God is predicated upon the condition of our heart. But our worship is only as valid as the integrity of our hearts. As the shadow of death slowly enveloped Paul’s dungeon in Rome and as he prepared his younger apprentice Timothy to carry on the torch of leadership after him, he wants to impress upon him the importance of character to being useful in God’s kingdom. Timothy, if God is going to use you, you need to walk with integrity. You need to have purity of heart. You need to be a clean vessel. That’s the whole point 2 Timothy 2:20-26.

This eleventh installment in Pastor Diceanu’s series, “Passing on the Truth,” on 2 Timothy, entitled “The People That God Uses” Part 1 (2 Timothy 2:20-26),” is now available for download.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Luke 12:32-34 ESV

This tenth installment in Pastor Diceanu’s series, “Passing on the Truth,” on 2 Timothy, entitled “Consequences of Departing from The Truth, Part 2 (2 Timothy 2:14-19),” is now available for download.

As you know, Cliff is one of our missionaries serving in England.  Recently Cliff’s dad has taken a turn in his health. He had surgery yesterday and is recovering in the hospital for about a week.  Pray for Bruce and his wife Kathy as he recovers as well as for Cliff and Ali.  This will be difficult for Cliff to be away from his family during this time.

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

 

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV

This nineth installment in Pastor Diceanu’s series, “Passing on the Truth,” on 2 Timothy, entitled “Consequences of Departing from The Truth (2 Timothy 2:14-19),” is now available for download.