Encouraging Others in Faith

Dear Weekly Readers!

I am now on a long road trip (almost 6 weeks) with my wife.  We are visiting churches in the USA for the purposes of preaching Jesus Christ, and informing Christians of our work in other countries around the world.   It is our prayer, that by informing the Christians, they will be willing to join in support of the mission.

Please be in prayer for safe travels, and obedience to serve the Lord to His Glory!

During the time I will be traveling, the Weekly Diner will come every two weeks, rather than every week.  Please understand, and I am thankful for your prayers!

May God Bless you and yours!  John R.

Please enjoy the below article by Pastor Orval.

If you knew you had only a short time to live, what would you tell your children, your loved ones? You would share those matters of utmost importance concerning life, namely spiritual life.

In our text of meditation, Apostle Paul, who shortly will be martyred for his faith, is writing from prison (possibly the last letter that he ever wrote) to Timothy, a young man who was converted through Paul's ministry. He is concerned about the Gospel being handed off to Timothy intact so that it may continue to bring salvation through Christ to multitudes. Let us read the first 7 verses of 2 Timothy

:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in

my prayers night and day;

Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Paul, vested with the authority of Christ as one who was sent by Christ, pours out his heart to his dearly beloved son, reminding him first of all that God through Christ has been and is yet gracious, merciful and peaceful toward Timothy. Paul then shares with his son his prayers for him, his longings for him, and his joy in him.

Then before Paul shared of his main concern for the writing of the letter, the source, foundation, guarding, teaching and preaching of the Gospel, he focused on four things

that were instrumental in the bringing of Timothy to where he was now in his Christian faith.

The first was his upbringing. Biographies never begin with the individual themselves, but with parents and grandparents for they bring/have brought/will bring to bear the greatest influence on our lives. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee,  which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

The second influence on Timothy was his spiritual friendship. After our parents, it is our friends who influence us most. Through Paul's ministry, Timothy had been led to Christ, and Paul did not desert, forget, or abandon him. Paul constantly remembered him. Three times in our text we see the bond of friendship between Paul and Timothy.

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

The third influence in Timothy's life was a special gift of grace. Even though the gift that Timothy received most likely was a call into the ministry, nevertheless, in general we all have been uniquely gifted by Christ according to His grace and for His purposes, so that glory would be brought to Him and salvation to lost souls. We may not have as of yet fully realized our special calling of the Lord, but in time we will. We are members of His Body, therefore that which He has given us has been and will continue to be used to strengthen, protect, nourish and enhance His Body, the Church.

All gifts and talents that are given to us are for the purpose of bringing glory to God by being used directly or indirectly to gather people to a saving relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

The fourth influence on Timothy was personal discipline. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up (rekindle, stir into flame) the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power (word for dynamite), and of love, and of a sound mind (sound judgment, self-control).

We are called to rekindle, reignite, the gift that is within us/in others so that we/they may

not only live in the benefits of the Gospel, but so that we/they may also teach and preach

the Gospel. We that are in a place of influence need to recognize the Timothy's among us,

such as the younger ones in our congregations, and especially the graduates this year.

May we follow the example of Paul so that the Timothy's among us will be loved, appreciated, prayed for, sympathized with, rejoiced over, challenged, equipped and supported.  May we continue in this training, teaching and transition process that already has begun from our/their infancy so that the Gospel will be taught and preached in the grace and in the truth of Jesus Christ until the end.  May we ask today: Who do we know that we could take "under our wing" in order to bring them encouragement and direction for their life today and tomorrow?

May God bless you. ~

Encouraging Others in Faith

Pastor Orval Wirkkala

Kingston, Minnesota