August 4, 2021
You Must Give Up, to Go Up!
Beloved one, you must give up, to go up! Being a leader and serving God requires many sacrifices. If you are not willing to make sacrifices never consider being in ministry or leadership. Paul and Timothy knew the sacrifice they would have to make to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote Timothy his spiritual son a letter and said, ‘you, have closely followed my example and the truth that I’ve imparted to you. You have modeled your life after the love and endurance I’ve demonstrated in my ministry by not giving up. The faith I have, you now have. What I have hungered for in life has now become your longing as well. The patience I have with others, you now demonstrate. (2 Timothy 3:10) And the same persecutions and difficulties I have endured, you have also endured. Yes, you know all about what I had to suffer while in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. You’re aware of all the persecution I endured there; yet the Lord delivered me from every single one of them! (2 Timothy 3:11) For all who choose to live godly as worshipers of Jesus, the Anointed One, will also experience persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
But the evil men and sorcerers will progress from bad to worse, deceived and deceiving, as they lead people further from the truth. Yet you must continue to advance in strength with the truth wrapped around your heart, being assured by God that He’s the One who has truly taught you all these things. (2 Timothy 3:13-14) Remember what you were taught from your childhood from the Holy Scrolls which can impart to you wisdom to experience everlasting life through the faith of Jesus, the Anointed One! (Timothy 3:15) God has transmitted His very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you. (2 Timothy 3-16-17)
Paul called Timothy to yield or surrender the many comforts he could have enjoyed as a Pastor. He modeled before his spiritual son how to handle sacrifice by addressing how our example as leaders should look. He also lived out his experience and equipped Timothy during the process. For almost twenty years, I have a spiritual daughter/armor bearer who I can truly say is a Timothy. She has walked closely through great adversity and persecution not just with me, but has experienced persecution first-hand. She has sacrificed, endured with love, and never given up! Today the faith that I have she has. The love I have for others including my enemies, she has. She’s not the only one, there are others, however she has walked the closest. Paul knew the calling that was upon Timothy’s life and pulled it out of him. That is exactly what God has called me to do, pull the gift of God out of each person that intimately crosses my path, push them out and position them for their calling and purpose be it business or ministry. Whose are you modeling your life after? My prayer is you are following Jesus Christ example as the greatest role model who ever lived!
