The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 29 November 2019 – Standing Against Every Evil Work
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TOPIC: Standing Against Every Evil Work
READ: 2 Timothy 4: 1-18 (NIV)
- I charge [you] therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
- 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 you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
- For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
- Be diligent to come to me quickly;
- for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica — Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.
- Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
- And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
- Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come and the books, especially the parchments.
- Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.
- You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
- At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
- 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. And 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!
MESSAGE:
One of our hymns reminds us not to yet seek repose. We are enjoined to listen to what our guardian angels have to say, and it is this, ‘Thou art in the midst of foes; watch and pray.’ The Apostle Paul knew clearly that he was nearing the end of his stay here on Earth. He had fought the good tight and had kept the faith. He was waiting for the crown of glory that the Lord Jesus Christ would give him.
Yet at this point, he was not relaxing or relenting. He was not ignorant of the devices of the evil one. He was well aware that though he was close to the end of his ministry, the host of darkness will keep attacking. He would not let himself be caught with the ‘Last hour Peril’ the danger of losing it when the race is almost done. So, he kept seeking refuge from God, Who alone is able to protect His own from the assaults of the wicked.
Till we go to be with the Lord, the enemy of our souls, bodies, household, career, children, and endeavours will keep moving to and fro the earth, roaring like a lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5: 8). He always seeks to attack that which gives us peace, joy, comfort, happiness, hope, aspirations and the like, from every angle, but in Christ Jesus we have the assurance of victory over him and his evil work. Our duty is to never ever give up the fight against the powers of hell that seek to destroy that which is ours; but be on guard in fasting and in prayer. It is written, ‘resist the devil and he will flee from you’ (James 4: 7). Let us also keep seeking refuge from God. We can be sure He will deliver us.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, protect me from every evil work and preserve me for Your heavenly kingdom, in Jesus Name. Amen
