II Timothy 2:1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus.
Grace is unmerited favor. Don't expect those you are teaching to be without fault. You aren't without fault.
II Timothy 2:2 You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others.
Don't waste God's Word on those who could care less about God or His Word. This is what is meant by, "don't cast your pearls before swine" (Matt. 7:6). When you teach, stay focused on God's words not your own. This is very important to building a road that will keep you and those you are teaching on track.
II Timothy 2:3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
II Timothy 2:4 And as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army.
Our Commander In Chief is Almighty God. You definitely want to please Him. We please Father by doing His will. Has He chosen you to be a soldier in the spiritual war?
II Timothy 2:5 Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize.
God's Word is the law. In order to be His soldier you must be willing to do things His way. II Timothy 2:6 Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.
II Timothy 2:7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will give you understanding in all these things.
If you are going to sow seeds of truth, you must first partake of the truth yourself.
II Timothy 2:8 Never forget that Jesus Christ was a man born into King David's family and that he was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.
II Timothy 2:9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.
They might have been able to confine Paul in prison, which they did, but they couldn't bind God's Word.
II Timothy 2:10 I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
II Timothy 2:11 This is a true saying: If we die with him,we will also live with him.
Why? Because that is our Father's promise. Through belief on His Son we have eternal life.
II Timothv 2:12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.
For the elect to deny the Holy Spirit to speak through them when delivered up before antichrist is the unforgiveable sin (Luke 12:10-12). Don't deny Him.
II Timothy 2:13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.
II Timothy 2:14 Remind everyone of these things, and command them in God's name to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
Words of no profit are the words of men. Focus on God's Word, and remember our mission as soldiers of our Father is to accomplish His will by teaching truth.
II Timothy 2:15 Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
This is the most important ingredient in building the road that leads to the teaching of truth. We have an abundance of false teachers today because all too many don't follow these instructions. Stay on the road.
II Timothy 2:16 Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness.
Traditions and words of men that don't align with God's Word lead many down the road of ungodliness. Wisdom and knowledge of God's Word leads us down the road of truth.
Let's continue our study in Proverbs.
Proverbs 1 :7 Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.
The beginning of knowledge is to revere, or love, the Lord. If you love Him, you are going to pay attention to His Word. Leave His Word out of your life, and you will be spiritually crippled. Skip with me to the next Chapter.
Proverbs 2:1 My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions.
Proverbs 2:2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.
Hear His Word with understanding. Meditate on His Word before taking action. You will know right from wrong.
Proverbs 2:3 Cry out for insight and understanding.
Note we are talking about those who cry out for knowledge and seek wisdom. This is a condition.
Proverbs 2:4 Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure.
Proverbs 2:5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.
The first step to obtaining knowledge and wisdom is to revere, or love, the Lord. That is only common sense.
Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:7 He grants a treasure of good sense to the godly. He is their shield, protecting those who walk with integrity.
Don't overlook the condition in this last verse. No one is perfect, but He does want us to try to do right.
Proverbs 2:8 He guards the paths of justice and protects those who are faithful to him.
Proverbs 2:9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will know how to find the right course of action every time.
A path is a road. Build your road to truth on wisdom and knowledge of God. There are good paths and bad paths. You are the one who decides which road to take.
Proverbs 2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.
Proverbs 2:11 Wise planning will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.
You decide which road to take, but if you choose the right road God will bless, preserve and keep you.
Proverbs 2:12 Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose speech is corrupt.
Proverbs 2:13 These people turn from right ways to walk down dark and evil paths.
Wisdom and understanding give you the discernment to recognize those who are on the wrong road and to stay away from them. Warn them, but separate yourself from them. They would like nothing better than for you to join them on the wrong road. Misery loves company.
Proverbs 2:14 They rejoice in doing wrong, and they enjoy evil as it turns things upside down.
Proverbs 2:15 What they do is crooked, and their ways are wrong.
The way of their road is perversity. Discernment allows you to steer clear of them.
Proverbs 2:16 Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the adulterous woman.
"Strange woman" is translated from the Hebrew word "zur". "Zur" means an apostate. The strange woman you should be watching out for is sister Babylon.
Proverbs 2:17 She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God.
Proverbs 2:18 Entering her house leads to death; it is the road to hell.
Wisdom and knowledge of God's Word allow you to discern between the road to death and the road to life.
Proverbs 2:19 The man who visits her is doomed. He will never reach the paths of life.
Proverbs 2:20 Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous.
Stay with the right crowd. Stay on the road of the righteous. That is the road to eternal life.
Proverbs 2:21 For only the upright will live in the land, and those who have integrity will remain in it.
Proverbs 2:22 But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be destroyed.
In the eternity heaven will be here on earth. The wicked will not. Let's continue in Chapter 3.
Proverbs 3:1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart,
Proverbs 3:2 for they will give you a long and satisfying life.
True happiness and peace of mind can be yours.
Proverbs 3:3 Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart.
Proverbs 3:4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation.
Many write Scripture on paper and hang it around their necks due to this verse. God wants you to have His Word in your mind, not dangling about your neck.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
What more could we ask for? Recognize Him, and He will direct us. This is a fantastic promise from our Father. We won't end up on the wrong road with His direction.
In conclusion let's turn to 14:1 John.
John 14:1 "Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me.
John 14:2 There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.
This is not long before the crucifixion. Jesus is preparing and comforting His disciples. The mansions aren't big fancy houses. The Greek word means a resting place. That resting place is Jesus and there for you now.
John 14:3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
John 14:4 And you know where I am going and how to get there."
You know the road. You know the way to true peace of mind. We just read about the road in Proverbs. Doubting Thomas will now show us how he came by the name.
John 14:5 "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We haven't any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Jesus Christ is the road. He is the way to life.
John 14:7 If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him and have seen him!"
Why? Because, if you have seen the Son, you have seen the Father. Jesus showed us the way. He is the right road. He is the Living Word. Study the Word so that you have wisdom and knowledge to stay on the right road. Happiness, blessings, peace of mind, and even more importantly eternal life are the rewards of building a road.