(2 Timothy 1:13-14)…..¹³ Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

The words of Paul (and the other apostles) are sound words and we must hold fast to them. So with that, what are sound words, and what is sound doctrine? The word sound means, sound health, to be well, to be uncorrupt. The word that Paul spoke (concerning the …

(2 Timothy 1:4-6)…..⁴ greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. ⁶ Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Paul’s comment about Timothy’s genuine faith must mean that not all faith is genuine – not all faith is pleasing to the Lord 

1. There Is Little Faith

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(2 Corinthians 1:1-6)…..Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: ² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are …

(Acts 9:31)…..”Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”
The “Holy Spirit” is truly the One brings comfort to the believer – because that is His ministry. He is the “Parakletos, Comforter, Helper (John 14:16-18) (John 16:7-8). The phrase “comfort of the Holy Spirit” should naturally remind us of Jesus’ promise regarding the Spirits coming to teach them all things, reminding them what He said (John …

Is the Christian life tough or easy? Which is it supposed to be? Does our daily walk with the Lord cause us difculty, hardship, sufering, and loss? Or does it pave the way for an easy road to heaven?
If we look at some of the people in the Bible — the ones who were faithful to the Lord — we see that they didn’t have a life of ease – (Hebrews 11:24-38). Paul, for example, faced difculties that would make most of us wonder where God is — shipwrecks, imprisonments, …

a. There is a gentle plea here – exhorting the readers to do what is right before God – weather people realize it or not it’s good for them
• Oh Come! – a sweet invitation! – will you come?
• Let us worship and bow down! – the idea is of community (let us) – together
• Not before a crucifix – not before some graven image – not before a picture – not before some false god or false religion – but before our God
• He is the …

God knows those who are His. He knows if we belong to Him or not. He knows all of our thoughts, all of our past, all of our hopes, all of our ambitions. The truth be told, He knows us better than we know ourselves. We do not need to worry that our Father in heaven will ever stop loving us (Romans 8:37-39) because  He knows each of us personally, as a father knows his own child (John 10:14). King David understood this (Psalm 139:1-4)

Think about this, what has …

(Psalm 92:5)…..O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.

(Isaiah 55:8-9)…..“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. God does not always do what we think He should, and I am grateful for that.

• I think – “if the Lord would only heal him he would believe 
• I think – “If the Lord would only save him
• I think – “Why does God allow the ungodly to prosper?

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