To view all of the free Bible studies by
Dr. Guido on the Book of Second Timothy, select the
page number from the menu on the left.
The Book of Second Timothy:
Message One
By Dr.
Michael Guido, D.D.
There was a
missionary who was earning $25,000 a year, and he was
contacted by a representative of a big corporation,
who offered him $50,000 to work for his company. When
he turned down the offer, it was raised to $70,000.
But he refused. On being asked why, he answered,
"I prefer the job I have." "Isn't the
salary big enough?" questioned the
representative. "Oh, yes," said the
missionary, "but the job isn't." The
apostle Peter must have felt the same way, for he,
too, was a missionary for our Lord. Let's turn to 2nd
Peter 1:1 and
Note his
signature. It's written, "Simon Peter." The
name Simon tells of his first birth when he entered
the human family. The name Peter tells of his second
birth when he entered the divine family. He made no
decision when he was born the first time. But he
alone made the decision when he was born the second
time. His first name describes his wicked and weak
nature. His second name describes his spiritual and
strong nature. Have you been born again? It's better
never to have been born, than not to be born again.
"I wish," said Voltaire, "I had never
been born." "O blessed be God,"
shouted one who had been born again, "that ever
I was born."
Note his
station. Testified Peter, "Simon Peter, a
servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ." The
word for "servant" in this verse signifies
"a slave." A slave was the property of his
master. A servant could have changed his master, but
a slave couldn't. He was the property of his master.
Thus a Christian is the property of God. "Know
ye not," says the Bible, "that ye are not
your own?" "Why?" you ask. "For
ye are bought with a price," answers the Bible.
When the crown of thorns pierced His brow, He bought
your head. When the spear pierced His side, He bought
your heart. When the nails penetrated His hands and
His feet, He bought your hands and feet. When His
body was broken and bruised for you, He bought your
body. Therefore glorify God in your body.
You are the
person that has to decide whether you'll do it or
toss it aside;
You are the
person who makes up your mind whether you'll follow
or linger behind,
Whether you'll
try for the goal that's afar, or be contented to stay
where you are.
You can take
it or leave it, here's something to do, just think it
over, it's all up to you.
Not only was a
slave the property of the master, but also in the
possession of the master. And it's one thing to be
the property of God, but it's another thing to be in
His possession. I bought a brief case, and when my
preacher-brother came to see me I gave him some
books. He had nothing with which to carry them, so I
said, "Larry, you may use my brief case."
The brief case is my property, but I can't use it
right now; it's not in my possession. Can God use
you? You see, it's not a matter of giving to God, but
taking your hands off His property and letting Him
have His way with you. To call a Christian a slave of
God signifies that he's in the performance of God. In
days of old the slave had no time of his own. His
time belonged to his master. Just so, the Christian
is one whose life is spent in the service of God.
Baron Von Welz renounced his title and treasure to
become a missionary. As he left home for the foreign
field, where his body now fills a lonely grave, he
said, "What is to me the title 'Wellborn' when
I'm born again to Christ? What is to me the title
'Lord' when I desire to be the servant of Christ?
What is it to be called 'Your Grace' when I have need
of God's grace? All these vanities and everything
else I lay at the feet of my dear Lord Jesus."
Note the
society. To whom did Peter write his epistle? The
Bible says, "To them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of
God and our Savior Jesus Christ." They were
Christians. How did they become Christians? By their
character or their cash, their toil or their tears?
Oh, no. The word "obtained" literally means
"allotted." That's to signify they didn't
earn it, nor did they deserve it. It had fallen to
them through no merits of their own, only by God's
mercy. And the channel through which it came is
Christ. He was a judge, and his son was brought
before him for breaking the law. The judge loved his
son, but he was loyal to the law of the land.
Everyone wondered how he could show his love for his
son and his love for the law. He looked at his son,
and realizing that he had broken the law, he demanded
a fine. But the boy was unable to pay for it. So the
old judge dipped down into his pocket and paid the
fine for him. That's what the Lord does for man. The
faith that He requires, He imparts. For the Bible
says, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God." You've heard His word, how
that Christ died for your sin. Now heed it. Say to
Him, "Lord Jesus, I take Thee as my
Savior!" and He'll save you. Testified one who
did receive Him, "The Lord saved me through and
through, and for keeps!" and that He'll do for
you.
copyright 2000 Guido
Evangelistic Association
All Scripture
verses are quoted from the New King James Version..
Click here to go to the next message in
this Sower Scripture Study on the book of Second
Peter.
This series of
messages on the books of the Bible were originally
written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program,
"The Sower." They are collected and
reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual
edification.
