Now Is The Time To Be Bold For Christ

Commentary

Timothy was a spiritual son to Paul, who mentored him, and by God's will, helped him to grow as a preacher of the Word. Paul warned Timothy repeatedly in his letters to him about the wickedness, deception, and lies that had and would infiltrate the Church. Satan's battle against the Church has been an issue since day one and will be until the Church is home with the Lord.

Like the apostles and early Church fathers, we too are at war against evil. These two verses are an exhortation for Timothy and, at a greater sense — all believers — to be ready. To be preaching the Truth of Christ to all, when it's easy and even when it's not so easy. To do the loving, but difficult things like correcting bad doctrine, rebuking heresy, and encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Even if you don't have a gift for preaching, teaching, or evangelism, you are to be ready at all times to share the hope that is found in Christ Jesus. We can look at the moral condition of our world today, the condition of Western churches, and what is called "Christianity" in places like Europe and North America, and fully recognize that evil has had its way in the organized church. But we as followers of Christ must fight back against the falsehoods and deception with sound preaching and teaching from the Word of God.

Commentary

This statement has held true for the last 2,000 years, but never has it been greater in the world than it is today. You can't go anywhere in the world and not find someone who is twisting Scripture or peddling a false religion that has "some Jesus" in it.

In North America, it would seem as if a major portion of Christianity is little more than social justice, prosperity gospel, health and wealth preaching. We're witnessing at a greater and greater rate false teachers who are simply telling people what they want to hear and what affirms their desires.

Once great denominations that stood on the Word of God are now pushing women pastors, LGBTQ affirmation, ecumenicalism, universalism, prosperity, and new age. These false churches cater to the human need for spiritualism but lack the full Truth of Christ in them. We are in this time when so many are turning to everything else but Jesus.

This puts you and me on a rescue mission to help false converts just as much as the neighbor who you know is not a believer. While you and I can't save them ourselves, we can be the messengers of the real Gospel, we can rebuke and correct heretical teaching, and intercede to God for them, while there is still hope.

Commentary

As believers, we all have a personal ministry. You may not be filling stadiums or getting 100K views on your ministry YouTube channel, but God has placed you where you are for ministry to those around you.

We live in Biblical days. The events of the end could not come about until Israel was a nation-state once more. We are in that time, and as you can plainly see, the world resembles what the Bible describes it would look like in the last days. Now is a time for boldness and living right for God.

You and I can't be bashful or passive when it comes to the Gospel. When you stand for Christ in all aspects of your life, you will be marginalized, you will be hated, you will be mistreated, but the rewards you store up in Heaven for your obedience will be so wonderful.

We don't know how much longer it will be until the Lord's return for His Church; it could be today, it could be in 5 years; we just don't know. But now is the time to be living right, loving on those around us, giving them Biblical answers to their questions about why the world is the way it is and how they can find salvation and hope in Jesus.

Commentary

Paul knew that his time was short, that he would be martyred for the faith. May we all be so eager to finish this race with completeness and boldness of faith until the end.

This world has been positioned by Satan as a stumbling block for all kinds of evil, but it's the fear and anxiety that this world drives, which snags so many of us followers of Christ. In my own life, I have faced very difficult times of fear and anxiety, times when I lost sight of the hope I have in Jesus and let my mind run wild and allowed the enemy to trigger me hour after hour and day after day.

But God has not given us a spirit of fear! He has given each of us, as believers, His Spirit, which is one of power, love, and sound judgment. Today, give Jesus all of your worries and fears and start fresh. Focus your heart on Him and your mind on His mission for you and march forward, soldier. The battlefield is this world, and the mission is harvesting souls for Jesus. With all that is going on, we should be a people who have answers and the answer to all their problems, Jesus.

Commentary

The fact is, the Lord is coming for His Church. Scripture tells us to always be ready and awaiting His appearing. It should be an event that we long for. I know that I do. Paul even states in this verse that there is a crown reserved for all believers who long for Christ's return.

As we await to see if we're the generation of believers who Jesus comes to snatch away, let us lean on one another, encourage one another, and sing praises together to our great God and Savior.

While this world is crumbling and falling into the position it needs to be in for the Tribulation period, we can be filled with hope, peace, and love. We can draw upon the power of Jesus to be different in this world, to stand out in a good way as those who have not lost hope and those who know how history ends. Which is Jesus on the throne and evil defeated. Until then, be bold and courageous, my brothers and sisters!