“…with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.”

You got it?  INexhaustible patience?

In our relations with other people, and especially those of the faith, the norm we aspire towards as Christians — is totally unreachable without the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us.  Quite a high standard! 

2 Timothy 4:2    Amplified Bible (AMP)

…preach the word [as an official messenger];
be ready when the time is right
and even when it is not
[keep your sense of urgency,
whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable,
whether convenient or inconvenient,
whether welcome or unwelcome];
correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior],
warn [those who sin],
exhort and encourage
[those who are growing toward spiritual maturity],
with inexhaustible patience
and [faithful] teaching.

2 Timothy 4:5    Amplified Bible (AMP) 

⁵ But as for you,
be clear-headed in every situation
[stay calm and cool and steady],
endure every hardship
[without flinching],
do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.

In the Spirit we are to exhibit “inexhaustible” patience.  Ready for that? 

In the midst of it all, by His Spirit, we can be patient.  In the midst of it all.

We can be inexhaustibly patient…

– Excerpts of  2 Timothy 4:2  and  2 Timothy 4:5
“when the time is right, 
and even when it is not
whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable,
whether convenient or inconvenient,
whether welcome or unwelcome
those who err in doctrine or behavior
those who sin
those who are growing toward spiritual maturity
be clear-headed in every situation
[stay calm and cool and steady],
endure every hardship
[without flinching],
do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.
– Excerpts of  2 Timothy 4:2  and  2 Timothy 4:5

Our present times are fast approaching the end days tempo of evil predicted by Paul:

2 Timothy 4: verses 3-4    Amplified Bible (AMP) 
³ For the time will come
when people will not tolerate
sound doctrine and accurate instruction
[that challenges them with God’s truth];
but wanting to have their ears tickled
[with something pleasing],
they will accumulate for themselves
[many] teachers [one after another,
chosen] to satisfy their own desires
and
to support the errors they hold,
⁴ and will turn their ears
away from the truth
and
will wander off
into myths and
man-made fictions
[and
will accept the unacceptable].

Sounds like the NY Times reports of every day nowadays.  Every day you can match-up most any news story to one of the above lines! (in verses 3-4)

will not tolerate
     sound doctrine
     accurate instruction
     challenges 
ears tickled
     something pleasing
will accumulate for themselves
     [many] teachers
     chosen] to satisfy their own desires
     support the errors they hold
will turn their ears
     away from the truth
will wander off
     into myths
     man-made fictions
will accept the unacceptable

In the face of all that, the actual realities of our everyday lives now – and worsening – each of us needs to… buck up in the Spirit!  Don’t try to be a Christian without a renewed filling of the Spirit every day, all day, all the time.  It won’t work!

FOR MORE:

What’s it like these days to be a Christian? Really a Christian. Case Study. Like, take John: all his life he has struggled with sexual temptations. Every single day, except maybe when he has a cold or the flu, or…

These days it seems so few know what the Bible really says about being a Christian. Many think it does not matter what you think. They say: Follow whatever you prefer. Just call yourself Christian, and try to “be a little more Christian” every day: be nicer, kinder, less cranky, more tolerant, accepting of others. That’s what it’s all about… they say.

What does the Bible teach us about the Holy Spirit?  (Links take you away to BibleGateway… keeping this window open.) 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:5; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:11; Revelation 2:17; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 4:2; 1 John 4:3; 1 John 4:6; 1 John 5:1; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:7; […]