NOTE:

This study is transcribed from our online group study.

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We are basically going to be on an exposition on 2nd Timothy.

 About two days ago i found myself watching a movie.

I stopped any movie that wasn’t a Christian movie in 2015. That was the year God opened my eyes to see that were basically distractions. So i lost interest in movies.

End of last year when i was a bit weak i picked up movies –  “jenifa’s diary” specifically in an attempt to drown myself and not think about stuff. When I was ready to begin my normal life in God again i deleted all of them.

Last two days again i found myself downloading the latest episode. GOD began to give me a warning sign. THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.

Yes movies aren’t wrong but Paul says “all things are lawful but not all things are beneficial”.

Hopefully at the end of this study we will also see what things are beneficial and what isn’t and align with what God is saying to us PERSONALLY.

 

First thing that struck me about the study is the fact that some of us may argue that we aren’t called.

This is for the called. But what does it really to be called?

‘And which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,”

-2 Timothy 1:10-11 ESV

for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,

-2 Timothy 1:11 ESV

 

Paul says I have been appointed to be an apostle and teacher.

So I noted to myself. What have you been appointed for? Because the lack of focus starts from losing focus on what you have been appointed for first of all.

You can get a journal. Write “what has the Lord appointed me (your name) for?

Only you can answer that question for yourself.

 

Second question that drew my attention…

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

-2 Timothy 1:14 ESV

What good deposit has been entrusted to you? What spiritual deposit has the Lord put in your hands?

Like i said get a journal and note yours.

I was answering the questions as i studied.

I wrote, my deposits: Twtw, ngo, books, blog, the lives of other ladies connected to mine, my gifts of encouragement, wisdom, insight, spiritual insight into the Word of God..etc

 

God says guard those gifts and what has been given to you by the power of the holy Spirit.

I have had two dreams in the last few weeks that showed me while i am resting and trying to form tired, the deposits are the target of satan. Paul wouldn’t tell Timothy to guard them if they didn’t need guarding.

Remember the man-child we spoke on at the last meet? It is real.

I can’t go into the details of my dreams but while praying the only word that was ringing in my head was “guard the deposits that the Lord has given to you’.

 

You know sometimes we think we are small and have nothing in us but for every one of us there is a deposit that has been given to us and it is not guarded by gist and the world. It is guarded by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. So if you have been thinking that you have nothing in you and have been relaxed even in this year…. Lax prayer life, lax word life.. God says guard that which I have given to you It’s not anyone else’s work to guard, its yours.

 

Like i said before, this study may not be for everyone but i trust that who needs it, will be spoken to.

 

So how do we stay on track? By having an eternal mindset. Just as there are rules to the physical race, there are rules to the spiritual race.

The physical race seems more real because it’s what we see, but it’s not.

 

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

-2 Timothy 2:3-5 ESV

 

I was asking God what rules?

 

Number 1 rule: we are working for God

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

The version I used to study says “do your best to gain FULL approval from God”.

Meaning FULL approval on this race can only come from God.

This number one rule i struggle a lot of times. *confession* i struggle with this even in twtw.

And the Lord will tell me: “men didn’t call you to this, i did. You don’t gain approval from men, you gain approval from me”.

In the same way for us, in whatever God has called us to. Be it a job etc, men aren’t the one to say “good job” to you. God is.

And when it seems like you are drifting off into wanting approval from men, stop, reassess yourself and motives and ask God for grace for your heart to be realigned. We work as unto the Lord not as unto men.

Every other thing or person the Lord wants to add to us is just jara. 

 

Rule number 2: cleanse yourself.

Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:20-22 ESV

 

The world conveniently forget this part of being a READY vessel for God. Not every vessel can be used for great work. And guess who determines what they will be used for? YOU.

And this is not only talking about outward sins but the heart What is the state of your heart lately? Some unforgiveness? Lying? Judgmental attitude? Hate? Gossip? Pride? What kind of vessel are you right now? One fit for honourable use or for ordinary use? Can your vessel bear the things God has entrusted unto you?

I know we all speak Christianese but what has your heart been looking like lately? I know our family members think that we are standard Christians but whats in there? Vessel for great use or ordinary use? I know myself and we all know ourselves Only us can know how far we have fallen Get back up. Rededicate yourself for His use I feel certain that more than ever before God is looking for vessels who can do His work on the earth. HIS HANDS AND FEET.

Will He find you? Will He find me?

As much as events are good… mingle and network. But that’s not what gives God the vessel He can use.Even in business He needs a vessel He can use.

Those vessels are scraped and cleansed in the backyard. Where they drop all that can stand as a hindrance to the manifestation of this deposit in them.

For me its my word life. Everyone may feel that I am full of the word.Someone commented on a group I shared with that I am worded woman but i am far off from where God wants me to.

You know yourself.

Men may use you a standard but don’t be deceived. Ask the Lord today..

Lord how is my vessel before you? Is there more work to be done? Help me Holy Spirit Come purge me. Cleanse me. Wash me from the inside out.

 

Rule Number 3: you have to be READY for every good work.

Contrary to public opinion God, doesn’t just call people out of the blues. He calls cleansed, ready vessels who has submitted to preparation.

Elisha was called ready. David was called ready. Both men were doing other work but their vessels were in such a state that they could enter into manifesting their deposits when God said Now.

READY VESSELS.

How has been your vessel been lately?

 

Rule number 4: You must be accountable to someone

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

Paul told Timothy “pursue after the right things TOGETHER with those who call upon the Lord with a pure heart”

How has your associations been lately?

As iron sharpens iron or as a dull axe? Are you flying solo or do you have spiritual authority over you?

At warri meet the lady i met up with. She gave me her book she wanted me to help publish and as i sat reading God began to speak to me. At a point i started crying. A spectacle at chicken Republic .

Why?

God confirmed things He had told me about growth in 2016.

He had told my growth physically is closely ties to my ascendancy in the Spirit and He told her same thing. As i kept reading and wiping my eyes, He said “accountability partner… her”.

God Himself knew I needed someone I could grow in Him together with and be held in track in Him this year.

If you are serious about getting focused about your call and what God has put in you.. ask the Lord for help. Someone who can you call upon Him together with pure hearts.

You need someone to sharpen you and no it’s not gisting partner and no, it’s not just TWTW either.

We can pour out water in the form of bible studies and prayer on TWTW but the place you need to get to, you need more than this.

Final rule, Number 5: Run this race with eternity in view.

Some of us are too earthly minded. Myself inclusive.

But what really matters sisters?

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV

 

Why do we lose focus? We lose sight of our deposits and lose sight of the reward for what we carry. The reward isn’t instagram likes,neither is it awards by anyone, the reward is at the end of race given by one person only – GOD.

I read that and was blown away by Paul’s confidence.

“I have run the race and finished my course”..

Will we able to be able to say that at the end of time? On this pace that we are on?

By pace I mean with the kind of mindset we have?

What things are you living for?

Whats your heart set on?

Are you trapped here or in eternity?

Even the job you do with what mindset are you doing it?

Just like Jesus did that day at the well; He is sitting here looking for who will come for His water and chose to see the way He sees.

Are there women who still know what they carry for God and are committed to seeing it birthed for eternity sake?

This was the last verse I read:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV.

Everyone may run but not everyone would win /get to the end. To me it hit me deeply.  

 

I knelt asking God for grace and asking for the same for us in twtw too.

 If you have lost focus or are about to…come back. 

 

 The journey is still far,and the Lord is still looking for you to work for Him.

 

Look upwards.

Look to God.

What matters lies in Him.

Perhaps this is a call back for me as well as for someone else out there.

I was convicted as i studied and I have obeyed and shared.

I know that part of my work is to raise women filled with Jesus and not just for themselves but to raise up others too.

So my heart was just been rend apart as I studied.

 

Where are we missing it Lord?

Please show us.

Please restore us.

Please help us.

Grace Lord.

Grace.

I pray we stay faithful till the end.

That we also like Paul can say i ran my course and finished it.

Focus: Focus On the things that matter.

Lord help us all.

Posted on: January 30, 2017, by : Frances Okoro