Today's Passage - 2 Timothy 4 3-5

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Timothy 4:3-5     For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.     Paul says, "For the time will come". In reality, the time Paul is talking about is today.  Today is a time when people pursue the newest and most exciting things. We can see this even in the amusement parks. I find that every year the roller roasters need novelty and change, the more novel and exciting the better. People's ears are already bored with things that don't change. They are asking for novelty and change, thinking that must be good.  These forces drive industrial production. However, in the truth, we should stand firm in God's word.    The "New Age Movement" is very popular at this time. They think they can interact with all the spirits in heaven and on earth. Therefore, they left the pure gospel of Christ in search for the so-called divine mystical experiences. Therefore, they fall into the worship of heresies, evil spirits, and idols. They are bored with the truth, even refusing to listen to it. Isn't this describing the world today? Faced with the unrighteousness and immorality in the society, they cover up their eyes and not look, refusing to listen with their ears, and not willing to humble themselves to repent and confess their sins, and even more they are not willing to receive God's word.    Faced with an unbelieving generation, the Lord exhorts us: keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, and discharge all the duties of your ministry. First, we need to be careful and keep our head in all situations in order to avoid falling into temptations, because the battle we face is a spiritual battle. Many times the enemy will get us when we are not paying attention. Also, we need to be prepared to endure hardship. When you follow the truth, not only does the world not welcome you, sometimes even brothers and sisters may not support you. They may make fun of you or intimidate you. You need to be prepared to endure hardship, because the time will come, and God will come to our aid and release us. Lastly, we need to discharge all the duties of our role and be faithful to the work that God has entrusted to us. God will surely reward us for his own sake. May the Lord help us not stop sharing the gospel, whether in season or out of season.                                            Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, please give me a strong and courageous heart to be a glorious witness for you in this generation. Help me to have a faithful attitude and courageous heart and will. Give me the power of the Holy Spirit and confirm the word I preach by signs and wonders. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!