The David Spoon Experience 10-9-23 part 1

A) Paul gives Timothy a list of things he should run towards, such as pursuing righteousness and godliness. They sound like very religious and hallowed terms, but righteousness is walking in what is appropriate, and godliness is mirroring the life of Jesus Christ. He also tells him to run towards faith, love, patience, and gentleness. The last three speak of a certain attitude or disposition because a man of God has authority in the kingdom of God. That person should be one who is loving on people, gentle on people - no small task there.

B) Paul then tells Timothy to fight the good fight. There will be spiritual warfare; there will be people who are used against him in spiritual warfare, and he needs to fight the good fight. Those are not the things to run away from and to lay hold on to eternal life because, without eternal life, this whole thing is pointless.

C) Paul urgently calls Timothy to give himself to these things, to make these things a priority in life. These are not afterthoughts; these are pursuits; these are priorities. In lieu of these priorities, make sure you give a good witness to these things to other people, just like Jesus gave a good witness to Pontius Pilate. He wasn't milk toasty when He talked to him, but He wasn't obnoxious either.

D) Then Paul closes out this section of thought by simply telling Timothy: hang in there until the Lord returns; keep going until Jesus comes back; don't stop doing this until the trumpet blows; don't give up; don't quit; don't turn away; keep going until the sky changes; the wind comes; it'll be manifested in his own time, not in timetables that we've set up for the Lord to have to comply with.