I want to speak to you today about what goes into forming a life for My service. I want you to be aware of these things because I have placed within your heart the same kind of burden that was in the heart of My servant Paul. I want you to recognize, first of all, that he was aware that his call was not of his own choice but of his response to My will.
First of all he had given himself to My will and that is why he was able to say he served me with a clear conscience. Paul had no designs on Timothy or anyone else out of personal motivation. He did not want Timothy to be something that would glorify Paul or perpetuate Paul’s ministry. Paul was aware that in this clearness of conscience he was sharing in the heritage of those who had gone before him. I did not give it as a singular blessing to him but the clearness of conscience was passed along as the inheritance of faith from his forefathers. Therefore he could pray continually for Timothy with great love and great faithfulness because he desired only that Timothy exemplify My perfect will in his life. Paul was aware that what was good in Timothy I had wrought, not only through his influence but also through the influence of his godly mother and grandmother. And so shall it be with those whom you meet. You shall become aware of how I have worked in their lives and how I have molded them. You are to be like a link in a chain, and though it may be an important link, it is one of many. I have spoken to you about the influence I want you to have. You see, the greatest influence that Paul had was demonstrated by his very life, but when he wrote and spoke to Timothy about not being ashamed of My testimony, he was able to be an example of what he admonished. My servant Paul knew that there were some who could not accept the call to hardship, who could not accept the shame exemplified in My servant Paul of suffering for the gospel’s sake. They were not so motivated. There were men like Onesimus who were unashamed to be identified with Paul, for he had ministered to him in the past and was ready to minister to him and be identified with him even when he had become a prisoner. So you see that it will not be amazing to you when some who you seek to influence will turn away. It will show that it was not within their hearts to suffer for the cause of Christ, but you see that there are indeed those who will remain steadfast and be unashamed. I want to encourage you to know that when you experience suffering willingly in My cause. Even though some shall forsake you, others shall be encouraged and they shall benefit and be strengthened by your example. This shall produce fruit. So then your words will be reinforced by your example. Remember these things for you too shall have the joy of imparting them to others who shall in turn, like Timothy, impart them to others.
You read here of the increase of ungodliness. Though these things have always been, that men such as these walk the face of the earth, in these days they are increasing in numbers and intensity, for the things described here were once generally unacceptable in those places where there was, what is called by men, civilization. But you are seeing a day when this kind of conduct and these kinds of values are becoming more acceptable, and you will notice they are not spoken of by the overtly irreligious or those who deny My name altogether. No, they are spoken of by those who hold to an outward form of godliness. What do you think it means when they say they have denied its power? I will tell you. It means they have denied the indwelling presence and power of My Spirit and they have denied the truth and finality of My word. They speak of My things but they twist them and interpret them to their own ends and they serve themselves through devious ways and cunning devices, and the product of their doings is described as folly. The way that they will be opposed is through the contrast of those who are willing to suffer for a faithful and upright testimony, which cling to My word, and by deed and word renounce the ways of darkness and perversion. I put before you this day the opportunity and the privilege of being those kinds of witnesses.
It is not yet the time when people will not endure sound doctrine, though that time is soon coming, but I assure you that if you are willing to be persecuted for righteousness sake and hold fast to My testimony, you will be fruitful and turn those who will hear away from error and deception.
I have weapons I want you to use against the wickedness of ungodly men.
They love pleasure more than they love Me. Their learning never brings them to a knowledge of the truth, for they oppose the truth. Faith comes from hearing the truth, but they oppose it and don’t love Me. They will persecute those who want to witness to the truth. The weapon?[pic]is the Word itself and those who want to live out the truth are to rely on the power of the Word and also live out the Word. The greatest way to oppose falsehood and evil is to live out the truth. If you will live a godly life you will have persecution. You must count on it as part of My plan and be consistent to live out the truth. Do you want to spare your life or do you want to represent the truth at the expense of your own life. If you prefer to spare your life, you can’t represent the truth. It is necessary to represent the truth no matter what the cost.?[pic]But I will enable you to live out the truth. I have no more powerful weapons than these. If people cannot stop you by persecution, then they have no other way to stop you.
If your testimony does not depend on your own security, then no one can take it away. If you love the truth more than you love yourselves, you are proving what you represent?[pic]rather than what they represent. This is your victory, because it overcomes the world. The world offers temporary things. If you reject those and live by faith and have a firm confidence in the Word, then that will be a witness to those who hate the truth. Will you be so committed to the truth that you will want to represent it as the ultimate verification of a genuine testimony to the truth? This is the way I want to overcome evil.