2 TIMOTHY

^[p. 313] 2 TIMOTHY

When the power of evil comes in, then it is just the time to expect courage. These are truths for the times. There are truths for eternity, which are more blessed. Through grace we now have Paul’s testimony, which had been lost, brought out again.

In the early church they used to pray for the saints, not to them. In the fourth century Christ was the only one they did not pray for.

“Purge from.” It is not exactly discipline here, but to separate myself from. There is the Lord’s certainty, and man’s responsibility, acting on which I then get ecclesiastical apprehension.

A thing may not be wrong for a person ecclesiastically, if he has no conscience about it; at the same time the church cannot be ruled by an individual person’s conscience.

The word “receiving” (into communion) should not be admitted at all. Properly speaking, we are all in. One has now to ascertain whether people are real — who calls on the Lord out of a pure heart.

“The last days” are more definite and distinct than the “latter times” — “perilous,” because of the form of godliness.

It is said, You must believe in the church because it is holy, and you must believe it is holy by faith!

We are always deficient in strength in service if we do not recognise that we have to do with Satanic power, as in Jannes and Jambres.

If I do not believe the word till it be sanctioned by someone else, I do not believe it at all; it is the sanction I believe.

No one speaks of the church but Paul, nor of Christ’s coming for the church but he.

When we meet together, we recognise the presence of Christ, not the habitation of God.

External testimony proves the folly of other men, but does nothing for faith. All arguments only remove the rubbish, they do not give faith. By removing rubbish from a plant, you do not make it grow, but you give it liberty to do so.

A gospel rejecter is under the responsibility of rejecting love. There is rather a want of will to come than a want of power: “Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life.”

We find that angels are the power of providence, Israel the power of government, and the apostles the power of grace in the Spirit.