Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

"Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. (2Tim.3.1 MSB) It is never easy to deal with difficult times. But if you've lived long enough, you'll know that difficult times come to all. God did not promise us a trouble-free life. He promised to be with us in trouble. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Ps.46.1)  If He will be with us in trouble, that suggests that trouble will surely come but He says to be of good cheer. Why? He says He has overcome on our behalf. That's why we are more than conquerors.  So do not be naive, our text caution. It says difficult times are ahead. But He reassures us of God's very present help. He says when you go through the water you will not drown and through the fire, you will not be burned.  "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppressio

"And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God's] will. (2Tim.2.26 AMP) We remember the story of the prodigal son, who, haven collected the portion of the inheritance that belonged to him, went into a far country and there he squandered all. And he began to be in want but no one gave him anything and he was at the point of eating swine food. And then the Bible recorded that he came to himself.  "When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home, even the hired men have food enough to spare, and here I am, dying of hunger! (Luke.15.17 NLT)!"  That tells us that most of the people acting out of character are beside themselves. They are not in their right mind. And that also must inform how you deal with them - as someone not in his or her right mind.  Our text says when we treated people right, that our actions may cause them to come to their

"He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it], (2Tim.2.25 AMP) He must correct his opponent with courtesy and gentleness - the use of the word opponent implies that there is an opposition of some sort. Despite the fact this person opposes you, the Bible requires that as Christians we be courteous and gentle.  I am reminded of a woman who came off a commercial bike the other day and threatened the rider, telling him that if not that she was going to church, she would have dealt with him. That should not be our disposition. The Bible requires us to be gentle and courteous.  It says the reason we do this is in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we do this, it says, this way they will become accurately acqu

"And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. (2Tim.2.24 AMP) There is a difference between suffering wrong and the willingness to do so. Sometimes it is the willingness that is the real test. Take the Father of faith Abraham into account for instance. He was willing to go up yonder and sacrifice his son, his only son Isaac as instructed by God. "And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of

"But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels. (2Tim.2.23 AMP) If one could shut one's mind, it follows that one's mind has a door. If it could be shut, then it could also be opened. Dare might I say that one's mind is always open until a conscious effort is made to shut it?  As the instruction in our text suggests. Shut your mind - do not allow it to go into any trifling controversy. What does trifling controversy mean? It means anything that is ill-informed, unedifying, and stupid.  This is how to identify them - they foster strife and breed quarrels. The Apostle says shut your mind against such and such.  Why?  Because they do not inform, make one wise, or edify one. By extension, you should open your mind to things that edify, make one wise, and inform you.  If your dwell on the negatives long enou

"Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. (2Tim.2.22 AMP) This passage of scripture is packed full of instructions for godly living. Firstly, it says to shun youthful lust. Youthful lust because he was addressing his youthful godson Timothy. We could say shun lust, youthful or otherwise. Then it says to aim at and pursue righteousness. Make it your aim in life to pursue all that is virtuous and good, right living, and conformity to the will of God in thoughts, words, and deeds. When you are asked what your goal in life is? You should answer and say, "to live a virtuous and good life, to  conform to the will of God." And then he puts the icing on the cake by

God does not play favouritism but He has favourite Children. And the responsibility to be closer to God than anyone else is up to us. James the Apostle tells us this much. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (Jas.4.8) God is nearer you to the degree that you choose to draw closer to Him. God is as close as close can be. He is closer than a mention of His name. The closer you draw, the more of Him you'll experience. "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (2Tim.2.21) If a man purges himself from everything dishonourable, ignoble, and corrupt influence then the man makes himself a vessel worth using. Sanctification is indeed both immediate and progressive. "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye ar

"In a well-furnished kitchen, there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets--some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage." (2Tim.2.20)  Every utensil in God's kitchen has an assignment. I like the metaphor employed in this verse. It talks about crystal goblets and silver platters but it also acknowledges the presence of waste cans and compost buckets.  What is important and should be noted is that everyone has their assignment caught out for them. If you are a crystal goblet, then do the job assigned to you, if you are a silver platter, do not try to be a crystal goblet or waste can. As the "waste can" cannot do the job of the crystal goblet so also the sliver platter cannot do the job of the compost bucket. As everyone provides the service assigned to them, the great house becomes greater.  The Bible uses another metaphor about this saying the body grows with the supply that e

Most people are quick to quote the passage from the Psalms that asked what the righteous could do should the foundation be destroyed to make the point that we need a better foundation. But the truth is that there is nothing you could do about foundational matters. You could not pray up, speak out, meditate out a better foundation. Jesus is our already laid foundation. "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. " (1Cor.3.11) And all you can do is build on it and the building materials you use are up to you. "Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw." (1Cor.3.12) So settle this in your heart and your mind that your foundation is Jesus Christ. You could not lay a better foundation even if tried. "But the firm foundation of (laid by) God stands, sure and unshaken, bearing this seal (inscription): The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who

The Apostle Paul was very particular about words, knowing the effect that words have and the impact they make. So he tells Timothy to stay clear of silly stories dressed up as religion.  "Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God--no spiritual flabbiness, please!" (1Tim.4.7)  And in his second book to Timothy, he repeats the same admonition.  "Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with." (2Tim.2.16-18)  You can replace the word pious with religious. And he says that words are not just mere words. They have an effect, they have consequences, and they impact. Proverbs tells us that words have the power to make us alive or to kill.  He says if words are n

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2Tim.2.15)  The most important approval you need is the one that God gives. Many may come from people highly placed but if it is not God's, it amounts to nothing. That means you may have to say no to some things. But when God approves you it does not matter who disapproves of you.  Jesus asked his disciples what the people thought of him, and as good as their replies were, he did not get excited until Peter took a sneak peek into the celestial realm and proclaimed what God had proclaimed by the Jordan river.  Our text says to study to show ourselves approved unto God. In other words, become a student that God teaches. A student that studies God and the way we do that is by studying the word of God. John one tells us that God and his words are one. When we study God's word we study God. And when we do, He will approve us after He has tes

God is forever faithful. Hebrews tells us that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This speaks to the consistent and trustworthy nature of our God.  "For Jesus doesn't change--yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself. (Heb.13.8)  He is always totally himself, irrespective of whether you believe or not. He is consistently faithful. He is not a fair-weather friend.  "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself." (2Tim.2.13)  I just want to remind you of the faithfulness of God. When we say God is faithful, it means among other things that He is reliable, He is dependable. He can be trusted. That means when He promises to do something, He does it. If you believe Him there is a certainty that He will come through for you. Because He cannot deny himself, and even when you deny Him God is still a faithful God.  Good day,  Have a great day today,  EmmA (aka Mr. Lift)  @Liftemma

There are several kinds of jail. Physical jail, mental jail, emotional jail, and imaginary jail. And some people are imprisoned in a jail of their own making while others are imprisoned by situations and circumstances.  And some think that because they are jailed, the word of God is also jailed. That when they imprison the messenger that carries the message, they have imprisoned the message but they would be sadly disappointed. The word of God is not in jail, cannot be jailed, and will not be jailed.  "It's what I'm sitting in jail for right now--but God's Word isn't in jail!" (2Tim.2.9)  I do not know what kind of jail you find yourself in right now. But I am here to tell you that the word of God can come into that jail and break you free but the word cannot be jailed.  The word set Paul and Silas free from the jailhouse in Philippi and the word can do the same for you.  "And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of th

"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." (2Tim.2.7)  Consideration brings understanding. The trouble with most people these days is that they do not have time to consider. To consider means to ponder on, think it over, and reflect on it.  The more you think about a thing, the more you get out of that thing. The more you ponder on it, the more it answers you. Whatever you spend enough time considering, will yield dividends to you.  The Apostle Paul says to consider what I say and the Lord will give you understanding. This kind of reminded me of what the good King Solomon says: "My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words." (Prov.4.20 NIV)  The annoyance is many sons are too broke to pay attention - attention deficit disorder. They do not listen closely enough because they are off in a far country -remember the Prodigal son in Luke 15? "And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants

"[It is] the hard-working farmer [who labors to produce] who must be the first partaker of the fruits." (2Tim.2.6)  I wanted to title this piece, "monkey dey work baboon dey chop". And it would reflect much of the life we see in our clime today. Where much is invested with much less in return and that would make the word of God a lie.  But we know that God cannot lie. In fact, the Bible says to let every man be a liar and God alone be true.  "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Rom.3.4)  So if God says the hard-working labourer must be the first partaker, then it has to be. Anything and everything that says otherwise is a liar. That means the works of your hands should satisfy you, should meet your needs. Hard-working you must, but that does not mean you will have no time for anything else.  It also means your labo

Doing the right thing always trumps doing things right. If you are doing things right but doing the wrong thing, it won't matter much. And that is the essence of our test today. A man may strive for mastery but if he does not do it lawfully, he would not receive the crown. No matter how fast you run, if you are in another runner's lane, you will be disqualified. Striving for mastery? Doing it lawfully.  "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strives lawfully." (2Tim.2.5) Every game has its rules. You cannot play basketball with football rules neither can you play football with long tennis rules. The wise king Solomon tells us that the labour of fools weary every single one of them and he tells us why.  "The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city." (Eccl.10.15)  There's a way that leads to the city. Find it and you will get in.  The Apostle Paul tells us

In every of God's promises to you, there is the God part and then there is your part. For example, we are saved by grace through faith. God provides His saving grace but you must exercise your faith and take advantage of the grace that has been made available.  Just as there are privileges, there are also responsibilities. It is your responsibility to act on God's word, it is your responsibility to pray. And as our text, today shows, it is your responsibility to not entangle yourself.  "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2Tim.2.4)  We are constantly at war. And as a soldier in the army of the Lord, it is your responsibility to rid yourself of every entanglement. Entanglement is anything that stops you from pleasing your commanding officer, anything that hinders you from fulfilling your purpose and carrying out your assignment. Your focus as a soldier is to plea

"Thou, therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2Tim.2.3)  The word endure means to bear up until that thing pays you dues. To persevere under a heavy burden.  We see a perfect example of this in the book of Hebrews. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb.12.2)  Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame and the result of that endurance is that he is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  As a good soldier, you too have to endure hardness just as Christ did. The Apostle Paul shares his own experience here with us.  "Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me." (2Tim.3.11)  So we see what we are to endure - persecution, and afflictions. But he s

Faithful men are hard to come by. They are far and in between. Rear. Faithful men are reliable, you can count on them, dependable. They are trustworthy and they are available. Not until a vision is truncated because of the unavailability of faithful men, you would not know how important they are.  Do not set out looking for competent men but for faithful men. Because they are faithful they will become competent over time. The one reason many organizations get it wrong is that they set out to look for competent men who are not faithful, skillful men who are not available, and talented men who are not reliable.  "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2Tim.2.2)  The Apostle Paul says lookout first for faithful men. Their faithfulness will lead them to competence. He says after you have found faithful men, then make sure that they are able. Do not let ability come

  "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2Tim.2.1)  I have often thought of the grace of God as a great mystery that cannot be fully understood on this side of eternity. There is so much to the grace that we have not come to know. But one thing I do know is that the grace of God is much more than we currently know. And the more we know, the more we realize there is yet more to know.  It can be described as a multilayer of God's benevolence at the disposal of men. So when I hear people say do not take the grace of God for granted, I wonder. Yes, indeed, we should not continue in sin that grace may abound. But I am reminded of the fact that the more sin abounds, the grace of God much more abounds.  "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Rom.5.20) So instead of pondering how much grace you have squandered, the Apostle admonished us to be strong in the g

God is a good God. There is no badness whatsoever in God. And because God is good, He only gives good gifts to His children. Are you a child of God? Expect good things from your Father. He gives only good gifts to those who ask Him.  "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us." (2Tim.1.14)  Good things are committed to you and you are expected to collaborate with the Holy Spirit to keep them. Most people are missing out on the benefits that the Holy Spirit brings to the table.  The Holy Spirit lives inside of you and you carry Him everywhere you go. It is important to be conscious of His very presence and engage Him on every level possible.  The Psalmist says God is a very present help in trouble (see Psalm:46:1) which means you will get help when you need it. And we know He is not only present in trouble but also as He is our Comforter, Standby, Advocate, Intercessor, Counsellor, Helper, and Strengthener. (see John:

Words are the foundation of our very existence. Through words the world was created, words framed our beings, words make us, and words could break us. Words are powerful. And every word we know we learned, even the ones we coined. Word created our worlds. Little wonder the Apostle Paul says "Hold on to the pattern of right teaching you learned from me. And remember to live in the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus." (2Tim.1.13)  Hold on to the pattern of the right words another translation reads. Right words are very essential. Knowing what to say and when and how to say it is a gift that very few people have mastered. Knowing what to say is one thing but knowing when and how to say it, helps seeming ordinary words to have the extraordinary effect "How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?" (Job.6.25)  Right words have a force behind them. They know how to make the right impact. And there is a pattern to it. It is this r

Knowledge is power so goes the axiom but when two very powerful words are used side by side, you know you are in for a treat.  Here in our text, the Apostle Paul uses these two words know and believed. It would have been okay to say I believe in God and that believing in God would have done the job. But he uses a higher verb that doubly reinforces the outcome.  "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2Tim.1.12)  He says he suffers these things because he knows in whom he has believed. Most people believe in a God whom they do not know. Knowing come not just from an intellectual standpoint but from an experiential one. The children of Israel before crossing the red sea believed but after they crossed, they knew. The disciple before seeing the resurrected Christ believed but when they saw him, knew