Throughly Furnished – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passage – 2 Timothy 3 – Titus 3; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17)
Read the “1217 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 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. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Timothy 3:10-17)
Good morning. Before God called Moses to free His people, the Lord made sure Moses was throughly furnished for the work assigned. God told Moses…
“Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” (Exodus 4:12)
And Jeremiah too…
“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:4-9)
As shown in our text, God uses His Word to complete (perfect) and throughly furnish the man of God to do the job assigned…
”And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Timothy 3:15-17)
God’s Word gives us sound doctrine. God’s Word will reprove you, but it will also correct you. But most importantly, God’s Word will give you instruction in righteousness. For your ministry of showing others Jesus, you will be throughly furnished. In Acts 21:5, the same Greek word that is translated as throughly furnished is translated as accomplished…
”And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.” (Acts 21:5)
Of course, none of us is perfect, the word perfect here in 2Timothy 3:17 means complete. Throughly furnished or accomplished (Acts 21:5) has the feeling of time. In other words, as we pray read our Bibles, God gives us things to get us through the day. The indwelling Holy Spirit brings these things to light when we need them. He empowers us unto good works, the good works God has ordained us to walk in. Let me give you an example…
My pastor in college was Dr. Bob Gray. When he first took the position, he started having problems with the head deacon. One day, he say that deacon coming across the parking lot towards him, and he didn’t look happy. Dr. Gray prayed and asked the Lord to give him something. The Lord said He did. One of the chapters he read that morning had this verse…
“And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.” (1Samuel 21:13)
…which the Holy Spirit brought to Preacher’s mind. So, he let the spittle run down his chin and took off towards the deacon. And, of course, the deacon changed course. But what was the “good work” performed? Maybe the deacon learned what his attitude should be towards his pastor. The deacons do not control the church, they are servants to the congregation. The pastor is the one who has to answer to the LORD for the direction the church goes. He is the one who should be at the helm. Maybe the good work was building Preacher’s faith: God confirming that He would supply his every need.
You can also be throughly furnished for whatever good works that you should walk in today. Did you read your Bible this morning? Did you pray today? How do you expect to fire your gun if you don’t load it first? Allow God to make you throughly furnished unto all good works.
Peace.
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