You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
5 But [de] watch [nepho] thou [su] in [en] all things, [pas] endure
afflictions, [kakopatheo] do [poieo] the work [ergon] of an
evangelist, [euaggelistes] make full proof [plerophoreo] of thy [sou] ministry. [diakonia] KJV-Interlinear
5 But you,
be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill
your ministry. NASB
Paul is giving Timothy specific instructions, but remember, that this is the Word of God, which is spiritually profitable to all of us.
And though you may not be an ordained minister, you are in fact a believer in Christ and as such, you are a member of the Royal Family, a Royal Priest, and a Royal Ambassador, from heaven to this earth. When you have the time, you should go to the special studies in the online library and review the blessings list, for there are dozens of blessings that are unique and specific to you and to each one of us in this Church Age.
As an ambassador, you have a ministry to others in this world.
Whether they be your family, neighbors or strangers, it makes no difference, for your daily life speaks volumes when others observe you from near or far.
To be sober means to be free of intoxicants, which could be in reference to drugs or alcohol or such things, but in the spiritual sense, an intoxicant also applies to the carnal views of this world. Human viewpoint is one of the worst escapes from truth that there is. For it is an active thought distraction, whereas all of the other things simply make your thoughts taper off and fade into various forms of euphoria.
So thinking doctrine is paramount.
Endure hardship, means that you do not grumble when times get tough or when things go wrong in your life.
This is the devils world and you as an advancing believer should be well aware of that. Knowing that all things in the world will not go as you wish them to go, therefore you should face adversity, whatever it is, with maturity and poise and faith.
To do the work of an evangelist, certainly means to promote the gospel, but in most cases, you and most people, do that by simply maintaining your views in Christianity. In life, you will come across many views that people will have. You can evangelize by means of your confidence and knowledge in doctrine.
Note, that you cannot defend or promote what you do not know. So, a daily study certainly helps in that regard. Don't you think?
To fulfill your ministry, means to bring a thing to its full completion. And that applies to your personal life.
When you were born into this world, you were born incomplete. You had to grow up physically, you had to grow up mentally, and you really need to grow up spiritually.
The first growing up, physically, sort of occurs without much help on your part. Your body just grows up.
The second part, mentally, requires an education in the school, on the streets, in the workplace, in every aspect of your life.
The third growth, spiritual, is where most folks fail, because they seem to think that it should occur on its own too, but it does not.
You are mandated, and that means an order from God to you, to study, to learn, to apply and thus advance to spiritual maturity.
And that is what this study in 2 Timothy is all about - sound doctrine.
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End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
