How to prepare for perilous times and perilous men?
To start off with, what does 'perilous' mean? It can simply mean 'very dangerous' or 'hazardous'.
As a matter of fact, we are now living in a time that is very dangerous and hazardous. Economic shaking, political shaking, war and rumors of war,... all these are happening in many places on this earth. Even the weather has gone berserk, has gone crazy, in many places, whether in the east, west, north, or south of this whole earth.
Man-made systems, or the Babylonian systems of this world is indeed shaking.
But I want to tell you something. Fear not! Because the Lord always has a solution for you, if you look to the Lord. There's nothing in this world that the Lord has no solution for. So, fear not, in spite of all the happenings in these perilous times. And you have Jesus who has overcome the world. Stay close to Jesus. Abide in Him, and He will abide in you. He will lead you through this time, and you will come forth victorious, triumphant in Christ. Amen!
We are going to focus on the 2nd epistle of Apostle Paul to Timothy, his spiritual son.
Let's start off with 2 Timothy 3:1-4 (NKJV), 'But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...'
All these are indeed happening right before our eyes nowadays.
Before we go further, 2 Timothy is a very relevant book in the Bible for this time, the end of the end time. Here, you can find some of the keys on how to prepare for such times, on how to prepare for perilous times, and even perilous people. For the record, 2 Timothy was the last epistle written by Apostle Paul. It was written to his spiritual son Timothy as he was reflecting on his life. Through this epistle, he encouraged Timothy to stand firm and keep fighting the good fight.
Let's continue with 2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV), 'Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.'
To explain this verse, let's go to King James Version (KJV). 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) says, 'Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.'
In the original Greek, the word 'study' here in King James Version (KJV) is 'spoudazo', which can mean 'to make haste, to speed, to be diligent, to be earnest, to be zealous'; and it comes from the word 'spoude', meaning 'speed or eagerness'.
This speaks of promptness, responsiveness, eagerness and quickness towards something. In the context here, to carry out a matter with speed, with eagerness, with enthusiasm; in contrast to apathy, laziness and slothfulness.
So, to apply back to 2 Timothy 2:15, 'Study to shew thyself approved unto God', it can mean 'to make haste, to speed, to be diligent, to be earnest, to be zealous; or to be quick and prompt to be at God's side, to stick to God, to stick with God; no matter what happens around you in this world.
As you can see here, this verse is not just about 'studying the Word', but it's about 'to make haste, or to be quick to stay close to God, to God's Word, and to God's way'. Because His way is higher than this earthly way. You know it, that no one knows exactly how to solve the earthly problems anymore, whether it's a problem with the political systems of this world or economic systems of this world.
But I tell you what, the Lord has the solution. The Lord has the solution for you, if you stick close to Him, and if you make haste and be quick to stick to Him and His Word!
How about this expression 'rightly dividing the word of truth'?
It can mean 'putting the Word of God in the right context'. It means knowing what applies to the Old Covenant and knowing what applies to the New Covenant, and not get it all mixed up. Because what applied in the Old Covenant may not apply to the New Covenant anymore. And mind you, you are living in the New Covenant, as a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, 'rightly dividing the word of truth' is knowing where you are in God's time (you are in the New Covenant) and knowing what applies to you as a believer in the New Covenant; in contrast to what used to apply to the people those days in the Old Covenant. So, that's one of the ways to interpret 'rightly dividing the word of truth'.
Another definition of 'rightly dividing the word of truth' is 'correctly analyzing'. Now, the Holy Spirit is your best Teacher. Thank God for some good Bible teachers and good Bible commentators. But nothing beats the Holy Spirit who can teach you personally, directly, from the inside-out. So, when you read the Word of God, be open in your mind and be open in your spirit for the Holy Spirit to teach you as you read the Word. The Holy Spirit in you will guide you and even reveal to you the many secrets in the Word of God.
Another way to define 'rightly dividing the word of truth' is 'accurately dividing'. It means accurately dividing what is specific for you and what is generally for everyone. It's the same here. Let the Holy Spirit teach you, guide you, and show you which part of the Scripture that the Lord wants to speak to you specifically; and which part is in general for every believer.
Last but not least, another definition of 'rightly dividing the word of truth' is 'rightly handling the word of truth'. It means knowing how to apply the Word of God into your situation. You know what, it's just like a warrior knowing how to handle the sword. The Word of God is like the sword, the sword of the Spirit. So, just like a warrior who knows how to handle the sword and to wield the sword effectively and efficiently, so the Holy Spirit can teach you how to apply each of the verses that God has spoken to you in your everyday life and in your practical life.
2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NKJV) says, 'Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me (Apostle Paul wrote), in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.'
You see? 'Hold fast the pattern of sound words'. In your context here, hold fast to what the Word of God says to you, and all the good things which was committed to you and promised to you, as written in the Word of God.
And you see? 'Keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us'. It means let the Holy Spirit guide you, teach you, and lead you on how you can apply the Word of God into your life, and in every situation that you face.
By the way, 'hold fast' can mean 'hold on, stay true, remain in, continue to believe'. In this context, hold on, stay true, remain in, and continue to believe in what God says about you and what God says to you, especially those words that you know (that you know that you know) the Lord has spoken to you specifically for your situation.
So people of God, hold fast to the Word of God, and let the Word of God continue to fill your life. And as you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, teach you, and guide you, you are going to be prepared for whatever that is to come, or whatever trouble that is to come in the future ahead of us.
But fear not, as I've written earlier, because the Lord always has a solution for you. He has a way out for you, and He knows how to make that way for you.
Let's continue.
2 Timothy 2:20-22 (NKJV) says, 'But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work...'
This is also a time of cleansing.
The Lord allows a lot of shaking that's happening in the world right now, not because the Lord is cruel, but because He is preparing His Bride for the coming of the Bridegroom. The Bride has to be pure, unblemished. When exactly the Bridegroom will come, no one knows, because Jesus Himself said, 'No one knows the hour and the day'. But as far as you are concerned, make haste, as has been taught in 2 Timothy 2:15.
So, this is a time of cleansing. And this is a time of preparing.
2 Timothy 2:23-26 (NKJV) says, 'But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will (to do the devil's will).'
And that's why the Lord allows shaking - so that our eyes will be opened, that we may be set free, we will come to our senses, and escape the snare (or the trap) of the devil.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NKJV) says, 'Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.'
But as for you beloved, because you have made haste to the Word of God, you will not be so easily deceived and be turned away from the truth; when everywhere around you, people have itching ears, people are being deceived by sensationalism, and they will hear only what they want to hear and not hear what they don't want to hear, even though that's the truth.
And again, as for you beloved, you are firm, you are strong in the Word, and you will not be so easily turned aside to fables or even to some sensational quote-unquote "prophecies"; but you will stand on the truth and nothing but the truth. Amen!
So all these are the keys for you to withstand these perilous times. As I've written just now, fear not! This is not a doom and gloom message. But this is saying that in spite of all that you see, i.e. the perilous times and the perilous people around you, you stand strong on the Word and you flow in the Spirit. Word and Spirit. And you are going to overcome.
To conclude, Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:17-18 (NKJV), 'But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.'
So beloved, for you too, the Lord can deliver you from every evil work and from every deception; and the Lord will know how to preserve you for His heavenly kingdom, as long as you look to Him, as long as you make haste towards Him, as long as you allow Him to cleanse you and sanctify you.
So you see, you are different. You are a holy nation. You are a royal priesthood. Yes, you are a peculiar people. The world will look at you peculiar. But you are God's people who have been taken out from darkness into His marvelous light. And therefore you will overcome, because Jesus in you has overcome. Amen!
Let's pray:
"O Lord, in spite of the shaking that's happening in the world right now, You have a solution for us. Therefore, we fear not. Because when we look to You, You will stand with us, You will strengthen us, You will deliver us out of the mouth of the lion, You will deliver us from every evil work, and You will know how to preserve us for Your heavenly kingdom. Therefore, we give thanks to You. We will not be so easily deceived by the words of men, by sensationalism, or by the words that entice our senses. But we will stay true and we will hold fast to the foundation of God's Word. And we are led by the Holy Spirit. That's how we are well prepared for what is to come. We will fear not, because Jesus who is in us is greater than whatever that is in this world. In Jesus' name. Amen."
